Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Runner's World in a feature headlined "Can a Runner Be the World's Greatest Athlete?", set the record in dramatic fashion with a blazing finish in the 1500 meters and before a record Hayward crowd of 21,795. Most of that crowd had watched Eaton perform through persistent and often heavy rain. But the sun broke out just in time for Eaton's dramatic run, with such former decathlon champions as Rafer Johnson, Bruce Jenner, and Dan O'Brien looking on.
In the process of earning the world record, Eaton also ended O'Brien's 20-year hold on the American record for the event.
"To have that score," Eaton said afterwards in a packed media area adjacent to Hayward Field, "it's like I've worked so hard for it. I really truly love this event and what it symbolizes. To me it's my whole world."
With his record, Eaton secured a place in London on the U.S. Olympic team. He will be joined by last year's world champion, Trey Hardee, who finished second. The U.S. will send only Eaton and Hardee to London. Third-place finisher Gary Horn failed to reach the necessary Olympic A standard. Brian Clay, who took Olympic gold in 2008, failed to make his third Olympic team as he finished in 12th place.
Eaton, who was a national collegiate champion in the decathlon while at the University of Oregon, got the hometown fans on their feet when it became apparent that he had a shot at breaking Seberle's mark in the 1500. With 400 meters to go in the race—the final event of the 10-event, two-day competition—the crowd learned via a PA announcement that Eaton was two seconds off record pace.
On the backstretch of the final lap, Eaton accelerated. The crowd noise intensified as Eaton blew through the final turn before catching the two decathletes ahead of him, Joe Detmer and Curtis Beach, and then breaking the tape. His 1500-meter time of 4:14.49 was a two-second PR.
"With 600 meters to go," Eaton said, "it was time for the magic of Hayward to kick in. I was two seconds behind but I knew in no way I wasn't going to get the record."
"I was so tired before the 1500," Eaton added. "I felt like I was cramping up. But as soon as the gun fires, it all goes away."
Eaton said he realized the record was within reach when he met his coach, Harry Marra, after the pole vault, the eighth event. According to Eaton, Marra told him, "You have to do this." Eaton thought Marra was referring to O'Brien's American decathlon record. Marra had other thoughts. "He said the world record."
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