BERKELEY, California –Julie Pickler edged out her twin sister and 2001 U.S. champion Diana Pickler in winning the women’s heptathlon, and high school junior Donovan Kilmartin won the men’s decathlon Wednesday at the 2002 USA Junior Combined Events National Championships. The event took place at the University of California’s Edwards Stadium/Goldman Field in Berkeley, California.

The 2002 USA Outdoor Championships also got under way Wednesday with the first day of competition in the decathlon and heptathlon under sunny skies with temperatures in the low 80s. In the decathlon, 2000 Olympic Games fifth-place finisher Tom Pappas ended the day with the lead after tallying 4,400 points. The 2000 Olympic Trials winner and 1999 NCAA champion, Pappas was unable to finish last year’s USA Outdoor Championships due to a sore shoulder.

“I can’t be too disappointed,” he said. “It’s a decent score, but it’s not what I was expecting. I scored 80 points more a couple weeks ago (where he set a personal best of 8,583 points in Gotzis). I was expecting to go higher in the high jump, but everything else is okay. Today my legs felt fresh and I felt really good. I think I can improve a lot on my second day tomorrow and I still want to get a PR out of this meet.”

Pappas’ marks today were: 100m: 10.81 seconds; Long Jump: 7.49 meters/24 feet, 7 inches; Shot Put: 15.09m/49-6.25; High Jump: 2.13m/6-11.75; 400m: 49.35.

1996 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Dan O’Brien competed in the first four events today before taking the gun for the 400 meters and promptly stepping off the track. “On my last long jump I hammered the board pretty hard and it really inflamed my left foot, which is the one that I had the plantar fascia tear in,” said the 35-year-old O'Brien. “This is a competition for me just to get it going again. It was very mediocre, so I’m out here to get the work in and I haven’t dropped out of the competition. I want to come back tomorrow and get some work in. On the curves my foot hurts quite a bit, so to not risk completely tearing my plantar I didn’t run the 400. I definitely wanted to score well, but more than anything I just wanted to see where I was at and evaluate my training. What does this tell me? This tells me I have a long ways to go. I’m going to keep training.”

O’Brien tallied 3,336 points before dropping out of the competition. He last completed a decathlon in winning the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York with 8,755 points.

Azusa Pacific University’s Bryan Clay, who finished third in this event last year, ended today’s competition in second place with 4,239 points. “For the first decathlon this year it’s going well. I can’t complain about a thing,” he said. “I had surgery on my knee just over two months ago, and with the pain before that it’s been a real inconsistent season because I haven’t been able to train as well as I would’ve liked to. I’ve been telling myself to be patient and it’s paying off right now.”

Other top finishers Wednesday include Stephen Moore (3rd-4,212 points), Chad Smith (4th-4,054 points) and the University of Tennessee’s Stephen Harris (5th-4,038 points).

2001 World Championships bronze medalist Shelia Burrell has the lead in the women’s heptathlon with 3,628 points, with 2000 Olympic Trials winner and defending U.S. champ DeDee Nathan close behind with 3,617 points.

The 1999 USA champion and runner-up at the 2000 Olympic Trials, Burrell’s marks Wednesday included: 100m Hurdles: 13.34; High Jump: 1.67m/5-5.75; Shot Put: 13.59m/44-7; 200m: 24.12.

“I thought I was like a Superman or Superwoman,” Burrell said. “A few weeks ago I go to Gotzis and compete and come back and I feel I’m going to get it done at USAs. But man I’m tired (laughter). I’m like, where did my superstar stuff go? Competing here is a lot different from competing at international competitions, where I’ve had my best competitions. Here it all goes by so fast and that works for some people. For me, I need a little rest. But I’m pleased. I’m sure my coach is pleased with my first day. I’m in a position this year to have a good year internationally.”

“I’m doing okay,” said Nathan, who trails Burrell by 11 points. “I’m glad to be out here another year to see how things go. My shot put went pretty well today (14.81m/48-7.25), but my hurdles weren’t that great and I was hoping for a couple more heights in the high jump. Everything else is about normal. We’ll come back tomorrow and hope for a good day and finish it up.”

Other top finishers in the women’s heptathlon included Kim Schiemenz (3rd-3,559 points), Virginia Mille (4th-3,553 points) and Meredith Davis of the Fibo Track Club (5th – 3,392 points).

The final day of multi-event competition at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships is Thursday. Competition will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time with the decathlon 110m hurdles.

In the Junior Women’s heptathlon, twin sisters Julie and Diana Pickler entered the final event tied with 4,538 points apiece. From the beginning of the final event, the 800 meters, Julie Pickler set the pace and held the lead the entire way, crossing the finish line in 2:21.71 to win the heptathlon with 5,338 points. Sister Diana, last year’s Junior Women’s heptathlon champion, finished second with 5,281 points.

“This is awesome, I’m so excited,” said Julie Pickler. “I had to win it. This is the first time I’ve beaten my sister in the heptathlon and it’s exciting. But she did awesome. I just worked really hard and believed in myself.”

“She really needed to perform well to get the qualifying mark to compete at the World Junior Championships (July 16-21 in Kingston, Jamaica) and she did it,” said sister Diana. “She was a little stronger today because she was really motivated. I’m like over happy for her, and I’m really thrilled that she did it. This was my second best total ever so I can’t complain.” Diana Pickler’s best career heptathlon performance was in tallying 5,365 points in winning the 2001 USATF Junior Olympics Nationals.

The Picklers, both graduates of Rowlett High School in Texas, will attend Washington State University in the fall.

Other top finishers in the Junior Women’s heptathlon were Vanderbilt University’s Josie Hahn (3rd-5,259 points), Liberty University’s Danielle McNan (4th-5,169 points and the University of Miami’s Amber Williams (5th-5,007 points).

Donovan Kilmartin of Meridian, Idaho, entered the final event of the Junior Men’s decathlon with a 632-point lead over the rest of the field. Kilmartin ran 4:43.15 in the 1,500m and won the decathlon with 7,440 points in his first-ever competition at the USA Junior Combined Events Championships. Robert Bates finished second (6,692 points) followed by the University of South Carolina’s Greg Royster (3rd-6,679 points), Jordan Mumford of the Texas Express (4th-6,641 points) and Justin Palmer (5th-6,562 points).

Kilmartin was named the Verizon Outstanding Athlete of the meet at the 2001 USATF Junior Olympics Nationals after winning the decathlon with a national youth record score of 7,405 points. Last July Kilmartin won the pole vault competition at the 2001 USATF Youth Athletics Championships by clearing 4.75m/15-7. Kilmartin will compete in the pole vault later this week at the USA Junior Championships in Palo Alto. “There was a lot of great competitors out there today, who pushed me along and helped me,” said Kilmartin. “This is a very tough meet and the best competition in the nation. These are great athletes and none of this was easy. This is my first time ever at Junior Nationals. I heard about it last year but I wasn’t able to go. I had a good first day here and I messed up my second day a little bit. I have the World Championships in about a month and I want to compete well there.”

For more information on the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships, including the complete results from Wednesday’s multi-event competition in Berkeley, visit: www.usatf.org.