Team Kennet decathlete Stuart Bladon becomes British number one with Tuscon, Arizona performance

Team Kennet’s Stuart Bladon is the British number one for decathlon.

He claimed a new club record points tally with 7242pts in Tucson, Arizona, finishing in fourth place overall.

The day started with 100m sprint, clocking 10.96 for the third fastest time of the day and equalling the Team Kennet club record.

Next up was the long jump, which did not quite go to plan, although Bladon still leapt 6.47m which placed him eighth, dropping him down the field.

He went better in the shotput, coming fifth with a throw of 12.46.

One of Bladon’s favoured events is the high jump, where he cleared 1.85 for sixth place, to keep himself in sixth overall.

Finishing day one was the 400m, where he claimed another club record clocking 49.04 to finish third and move himself up the rankings ready for day two.

The second day in Arizona started well, as he broke another club record in the 110m hurdles with a fast 15.2, good enough for sixth fastest on the day.

Discuss was next up, where Bladon threw 37.07 for eighth place.

The pole vault saw him clear a huge 4.50m, just missing out on his personal best, but good enough for fifth place, edging him near to the top three overall.

Javelin saw Bladon throw 52.88, again just missing his best but claiming fifth.

Finally, the last event meant the gruelling 1500m, but Bladon thrived as he stormed round to win this event in 4.37.5 which was 100pts short of 3rd place.

This was good enough to see the Team Kennet man become British number one in his sport and seal a momentous achievement.