Points are awarded to the athletes depending on where they finish in each event. The athletes with the most total points when all the events are complete will be the winner.
The decathlon and heptathlon are not offered as part of the high-school track season, but many of the athletes competing this week have aspirations to compete in college and practice the events throughout the year.
The decathlon is more challenging for the boys, who throw a heavier shot and discus than in high school competition, and must clear 42-inch hurdles instead of the standard 39-inch hurdles.
“It’s pretty different,” meet director Chris Mattingly said. “Even kids that are really solid hurdlers their times will come down.”
Mattingly, an assistant coach at Arlington, runs the two events along with Eagles head coach Judd Hunter.
Mattingly said Arlington’s Jared Alskog and Lakewood’s Andrew Stich are two of the favorites in the boys decathlon. Alskog placed second in last year’s event.
Holy Names’ Olivia Vincent and Tumwater’s Brooke Feldmeier are the overwhelming favorites in the girls heptathlon.
Both events are open to high school freshmen through outgoing seniors.
“It’s a low-key atmosphere, but (the kids) compete hard,” Mattingly said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie between the kids, too. They make a lot of friends.”