University of Arkansas junior Ayden Owens-Delerme is on top of the world halfway through the decathlon.
Owens-Delerme, competing for Puerto Rico, leads the decathlon through five events Saturday night at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships with 4,606 points.
Competing at Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., where Owens-Delerme won the NCAA title in June by matching the meet record with 8,457 points, he took the first-day lead by running a personal-best 45.07 seconds in the 400 meters.
Canada’s Pierce LePage is second with 4,486 points — 121 behind Owens-Delerme. U.S. athletes are third and fourth with Zachery Ziemek (4,469 points) and Kyle Garland (4,413).