May 14, 2000

EUGENE, Ore. - California senior Bevan Hart and junior Missy Vanek became the first teammates to sweep the Pac-10 decathlon and heptathlon titles Sunday at Hayward Field. Hart successfully defended his 1999 decathlon title with a career-best 7890 points, which is the second best performance in school history but 10 points shy of the U.S. Olympic Trials B Standard. Vanek claimed her first conference heptathlon crown, blowing away the competition with 5505 points.

With Hart's victory, Cal has won the last four Pac-10 decathlon championships, including victories in 1997 and 1998 by Ross Bomben. With less than a 100-point lead through seven events, Hart built almost a 300-point lead after earning 1035 points for a lifetime-best mark of 17-8.5 in the pole vault, which ranks third all-time among Cal performers. The Sacramento, Calif., native ended up defeating host Oregon's Santiago Lorenzo (7649 points) by 241 points. Hart wrapped up the championship with a third-place finish in the javelin (169-7) and a first-place lifetime-best 4:22.52 in the 1500m. Hart improved on his previous best decathlon (7773 points) at the 1999 NCAA Championship by posting three first-place finishes, four third-place finishes and three fourth-place finishes this weekend.

The Golden Bear men enter next weekend's Pac-10 competition in a tie for first place with Oregon with 13 points thanks to Hart's first-place finish (10 points) and sophomore Matt Blair's sixth-place finish (3 points). Blair posted a career-best 7008 points in his first Pac-10 meet since transferring to Cal from Marin Junior College.

"I'm very pleased with our performances this weekend," said Cal multi-event coach Ed Miller. "Matt finishing sixth was a nice surprise. It enables Cal to continue its tradition of leading the Pac-10 meet heading into the second week of competition."

With Vanek's victory, the Cal women are in second place with 10 points. Stanford leads the women's race with 12 points on the strength of a second-place finish (8 points) from Joy Goff (5113 points) and a fifth-place finish (4 points) from Julie Tinker (4972 points) today.

Vanek, who recorded a career-best 5554 points in the heptathlon in March, started slowly today with a sixth-place finish (17-6.5) in the long jump but ended the day strong, taking second in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 137-1 and first in the 800m with a PR of 2:14.58. Prior to transferring to Cal this season from Boise State, Vanek placed third in the heptathlon at the 1998 and 1999 Big West Championships.

The Pac-10 Championships continue May 20-21 at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

Pac-10 Decathlon
1. Bevan Hart (Cal) 7890 points, 2. Santiago Lorenzo (Oregon) 7649 points, 3. Jacob Predmore (UW) 7298 points, 4. Billy Pappas (Oregon) 7184 points, 5. Casey Thompson (USC) 7050 points, 6. Matt Blair (Cal) 7008 points, 7. Marcell Allmond (USC) 6931, 8. Russell Silvers (USC) 6871 points, 9. Doug Sells (Oregon) 6615 points, 10. Brian Kraemer (ASU) 6308, 11. Daniel Haag (USC) 2575 points.

Cal Individual Results
1. Bevan Hart (7890 points) - 100m: 3. 11.18 (821 points), LJ: 4. 7.02m (818), SP: 3. 44-8.75 (706), HJ: 4. 6-3.25 (723), 400m: 1. 48.55 (883), 110mH: 4. 15.16 (830), Discus: 3. 131-7 (667), PV: 1.17-8.5 (1035), JV: 3. 169-7 (613), 1500m: 1. 4:22.52 (794). 6. Matt Blair (7008 points) - 100m: 8. 11.48 (757), LJ: 9. 6.50m (697), SP: 6. 42-1.5 (12.84), HJ: 5t. 6-2 (696), 400m: 5. 49.93 (818), 110mH: 6. 15.31 (812), Discus: 5. 127-11 (644), PV: 6t. 13-9.25 (673), JT: 4. 168-0 (606), 1500m: 7. 4:45.11 (648).

Pac-10 Heptathlon
1. Missy Vanek (Cal) 5505 points, 2. Joy Goff (Stanford) 5113 points, 3. Cicel Clinkenbeard (WSU) 5044 points, 4. Jenny Kenyon (Oregon) 5032 points, 5. Julie Tinker (Stanford) 4972 points, 6. Agneta Rosenblad (WSU) 4795 points, 7. Jodi Smith (ASU) 4545 points, 8. Elizabeth Arollo (ASU) 4427 points, 9. Spring Harris (USC) 3755 points, 10. Lydia Rolle (USC) 3408 points.

Cal Individual Results
1. Missy Vanek (5505 points) - 100mH: 3. 14.84 (863), HJ: 1. 5-8 (891), SP: 4. 35-4.5 (581), 200m: 2. 24.72 (913), LJ: 6. 17-6.5 (657), JT: 2. 137-1 (701), 800m: 1. 2:14.58 (899).