The Women’s Decathlon World Championships is an international 10-event track and field competition where competitors from multiple nations compete against each other. Culver-Stockton College’s Grad Student Delaney Straus competed in this competition for the second year in a row following her strong performance last year when she placed 10th.
This year Straus finished 13th overall. “Compared to last year, this year was completely different. Last year we worked on just clearing the events I hadn’t done prior to doing a decathlon; however, this year we prepared and actually worked on the mechanics of some of the events,” said Straus.
Straus is also grateful that she was able to work with Coach Hunter Davis in preparation for the World Championships. Coach Davis said, “The experience in preparation was nonstop, between planning practice plans 6 days a week and researching the facility and opponents.”
The Women’s Decathlon World Championships were held this year in Oberlin, Ohio, on August 8th and 9th.
Straus knew that this year was not going to bring in the same results and competition as last year and that she was going to have to work a lot harder.
“This year we had women competing who held their own national titles and had an Olympic-level athlete as well. Competition was much stiffer, looked like pros, and everybody knew what they were doing,” said Straus. With this tougher competition compared to last year, it made it all the more fun for Straus to compete.
Knowing all of this information, it did not stop Straus from being competitive and even breaking some of her own personal records.
Straus broke her decathlon overall score; javelin; her decathlon 1500 meters; decathlon 400 meters; and decathlon high jump.
Although she did not place as high as she wanted to, she knew competition was much harder this year.
Now that the Women’s Decathlon World Championships are over, Straus is preparing and looking forward to the Track and Field season. “ I had to take last year’s season off due to an injury, but I am looking forward to competing again this year,” stated Straus.
Although Straus might have just finished competing in the World Championships, she is already looking forward to making sure she qualifies again and improves on her events for next year’s Women’s Decathlon World Championships.
