BYU Senior Wins First NCAA Decathlon Title in 43 Years

Ben Barton walked onto the track in Eugene, Oregon for his final college meet in June and walked away as BYU's first NCAA decathlon champion in 43 years.

The senior didn't even start as a decathlete. When Barton joined BYU's track team as a high jumper, he asked to try the grueling 10-event competition. He struggled so much that coaches encouraged him to stick with high jump. He asked for more time and by the end of freshman year, he'd improved enough to stay.

His early years were rough. Barton trained relentlessly and felt his body break down under the workload. But his exercise science courses taught him something crucial about injury prevention and recovery that changed everything.

This year, Barton shifted his approach. He focused on the most important elements of each event and prioritized rest over maximum training. "This was actually the first nationals I competed at where I felt like I was 100 percent healthy," he said. "That made a huge difference."

The strategy paid off. On day two of the championship, Barton opened with a strong 110-meter hurdles performance, then threw a personal best 42.15 meters in discus. He followed with a season-best pole vault and another personal record in javelin before finishing with a total of 8,169 points, the second-highest in BYU history.

The victory came with an extra challenge. Barton and his wife Clara welcomed their son just five weeks before the championship. Training with a newborn at home wasn't easy, but Clara's support helped him stay focused and ultimately claim the title.

Why This Inspires

Barton's story shows that sometimes the key to winning isn't working harder but working smarter. His willingness to rest when his body needed it, combined with knowledge from his academic studies, turned years of struggle into championship success. He also stayed close to his spiritual goals throughout college, making temple attendance and scripture study priorities that he credits with guiding his athletic decisions.

Looking ahead, Barton plans to attend dental school, drawn to a field where he can keep learning technical skills while helping people. His college athletics career ended exactly how every athlete dreams: healthy, victorious, and ready for what comes next.