FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — The first international competition at the University of Arkansas has been scheduled for July 29-30.
According to a release from the university, the 23rd Annual Thorpe Cup, will be held at John McDonnell Field. It is part of a series of annual international team decathlons between the United Stated and Germany.
John McDonnell Field is one of only three IAAF Class 1 certified tracks in the United States, the release stated.
“We are pleased to welcome yet another premiere track and field event to Northwest Arkansas,” said Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long stated in the release. “The University of Arkansas has an unmatched track and field tradition and has been the home to numerous major events. The opportunity to host the Thorpe Cup, our first international meet, will enable us to enjoy some outstanding track and field action while further enhancing our championship reputation. We look forward to welcoming teams from the United States and Germany to Fayetteville for some spirited competition leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games.”
*HISTORY OF THE THORPE CUP:
Currently the world’s most important nation vs. nation team decathlon, this meet has been variously called the VISA CUP Meet or the JEEP Challenge. In 2007, the event officially took the name of The Thorpe Cup in honor of 1912 Olympic Decathlon Champion Jim Thorpe, of Carlisle, Pa.
The concept of an annual team match was initially conceived by VISA-USA team coach Harry Marra and Team Zehnkampf coach Claus Marek in 1993.
In the current series, the first meeting was arranged in Aachen, Germany in 1993 where Stefan Schmid of Germany and the VISA USA team were victorious. The U.S. team won six of the initial seven team battles. In 1999, the event hosted in Aachen was decided by a mere five points. Three years earlier in Edwardsville, Ill., the U.S. squad set a world five-man team record averaging 8121.4 points per man.
This meet has been the proving ground for many notable Olympians. All told, 15 Olympic decathletes have competed in the meet (see below). Only Kip Janvrin, Mike Maczey and Tom Pappas have won the individual title more than once.
In the years before the current series, the U.S., and German decathlon teams met twice: In 1974, Team USA won both with one of their decathletes in Tallinn, Estonia (tri meet: USA/USSR/Germany). Team USA won again in 1983 in Baton Rouge, La. So, counting the two earlier team meetings, the Americans hold a historical 15-9 national team advantage.
*From the University of Arkansas press release
