North Allegheny decathlete Ayden Owens wins 110 hurdles on Day 2 at IAAF World U20

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 | 8:45 AM

Whether he’s running in Baldwin, Shippensburg or Tampere, Finland, the 110 hurdles have belonged to North Allegheny’s Ayden Owens this season.

The five-time state champion won the decathlon hurdles Wednesday in 13.74 seconds at the IAAF World U20 Championship, his first victory on the international stage. Switzerland’s Finley Gaio was second in 13.90 seconds and American Kyle Garland was third in 13.99.

Owens is competing for Puerto Rico.

The recent graduate ranked 12th overall in the decathlon standings with 5,606 points after eight events. The javelin and 1,500 meters were later Wednesday. Owens would have ranked much higher if not for a disqualification Tuesday in the 400 meters that cost him 876 points.

Making his international track debut, Owens placed second in the 100 meters (10.67 seconds), fifth in both the long jump (6.94 meters) and shot put (13.71 meters), and sixth in the high jump (1.92 meters) on Day 1. In Tuesday’s final event, Owens was initially credited with a personal-best 48.70-second finish in the 400 meters, but later was listed as disqualified.

On Day 2, after winning the hurdles, Owens placed sixth in the discus (42.72 meters) and 11th in the pole vault (4.30 meters).

Australia’s Ashley Moloney ranked first overall with 6,883 points. American Kyle Garland was sixth with 6,249.