Hicks wins decathlon event

University of Montana-Missoula freshman Chris Hicks rallied from second place after day one to win the decathlon at the 36th annual Pelluer Invitational in Cheney, Wash., helping the Grizzlies sweep the multi-events.

The former Whitefish High School athlete finished with 6,385 points on April 6, easily meeting the Big Sky-qualifying standard of 5,246 points.

On day one, Hicks had the top performance in the high jump, at 6 feet 3.5 inches, and in the 400-meter run, at 52.95 seconds. He also posted 11.93 seconds in the 100 meters, 20 feet 3.5 inches in the long jump and 34 feet 3/4 inches in the shot put.

Hicks opened the second day with 16.69 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. He took the lead for good in the seventh event with a throw of 105 feet 9 inches in the discus. He extended his lead with 13 feet 9.25 inches in the pole vault, 165 feet 11 inches in the javelin and 4:31.5 in the 1,500 meters.

Hicks has obviously recuperated from a bruised heel he suffered during competition in the men's heptathlon of the Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Champ-ionships at Bozeman in February.