Released 08/10/2009 by Kansas State University

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State assistant track and field coach Tom Pappas won the annual Thorpe Cup decathlon this weekend in Marburg, Germany. Pappas dominated the field scoring 8,569 points, which also is the second-highest point total in the world this year.

Pappas was not the only K-State representative at the annual Germany vs. USA event. He was joined by team manager Dani McNaney and volunteer coach Julie Pickler who both competed in the women’s heptathlon.

Pappas bested the field by 677 points with strong marks in every event to post the No. 2 score in the world. He scored at least 900 points in five of the events with his highest score coming in the long jump at 7.63 meters worth 967 points. His score of 8,569 points was just more than 200 points shy of his career high and bested his score at the Olympic Trials last summer. K-State head coach and personal coach of Pappas said his win was a complete performance.

“Tom’s performance was outstanding,” Rovelto said. “He performed at a high level in every discipline save for the 1,500 meters where he battled some cramping.”