Ashton Eaton brought a record capacity crowd to full roar Saturday at Hayward Field as the Oregon graduate set a world record in the decathlon, scoring 9,039 points to break the previous record of 9,026 set in 2001 by the Czech Republic's Roman Sebrle.

The official attendance was 21,795. It was but one highlight of a dramatic and newsmaking day at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials.

Eaton's record was the first world record set at the U.S. Olympic Trials since Michael Johnson's 19.66 in the 2000 at Atlanta in 1996. It was also the fifth time an American set a decathlon world record at the Trials, a feat most recently achieved in 1976 by Bruce Jenner. Former record holders Jenner and Dan O'Brien were on hand to great Eaton at the finish line.

Needing to run better than 4:16.23 in the 1500 to crack the world record, Eaton followed Curtis Beach and Joe Detmer through the first three-and-a-half laps before crossing the line in 4:14.48 as Beach waved him through the line.

2011 world champion Trey Hardee claimed the second spot on the podium with a score of 8,383 points and will join Eaton in London. Gray Horn was third at 7,954.

Reigning Olympic champion Bryan Clay faltered in the 110 high hurdles where he hit the ninth hurdle and did not clear the 10th hurdle. His time of 16.81 garnered him only 644 points. Things did not get better in the next event when Clay fouled three times in the discus and did not score a point. Though he was out of contention to make the decathlon podium, Clay continued on to finish all 10 events, finishing 12th with 7109 points.

World 100-meter champion Carmelita Jeter dashed to her third U.S. title in the short sprint, all won at Hayward Field, with a swift 10.92. Tianna Madison was second in 10.96. The event's drama came in the tussle for the third spot where three-time World 200 champion Allyson Felix and former Texas A&M star Jeneba Tarmoh finished in a dead heat at 11.07 (11.068).

Reigning Olympic champion Dawn Harper out-sprinted Kellie Wells and Lolo Jones to win the women's 100 hurdles in 12.73, with 2011 U.S. champion Wells second in 12.77 and two-time World Indoor 60 hurdle winner Jones surging to place third in 12.86. It was the second national title in the 100 hurdles for Harper, who also won in Eugene in 2009, and Jones makes her second straight Olympic team after winning the '08 Trials and finishing seventh in Beijing.

In qualifying, Stanford grads Erica McLain and Whitney Liehr advanced to the finals in the women's triple jump on Saturday.

McLain was sixth with a best of 43-7 3/4 while Liehr was 10th at 42-10 3/4 as the top 12 marks moved on. Amanda Smock had the best mark, a 45-3 1/2. Finals will be Monday.

Also competing Monday will be Stanford grads Chris Derrick and Lauren Fleshman in the men's and women's 5,000 heats.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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