On day one of the decathlon, Wichita State's Adria Navajon's left heel ruined his best event. The pain flared up in the long jump, limiting his distance to more than two feet below his best.
The injury, which has bothered him since the indoor track season, also damaged his chances to hit the points total of around 7,500 likely needed to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The rest of the event became a test of mental strength for Navajon, a redshirt freshman from Barcelona, Spain. The heel made the jumping events difficult because it robbed him of the power supplied by his plant leg.