American women rebound after streak of 10 straight victories was halted last year, led by Atherley and Marsh both surpassing 6,000 points in heptathlon; Wolter holds off reigning decathlon champion West 8,299 to 8,158 to take title, but U.S. men grab next five spots for first crown since 2016

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

After Germany swept both United States teams on American soil for the first time in Thorpe Cup history last year, redemption was earned Sunday at Georg-Gaßmann Stadium in Marburg.

The American women, who had their run of 10 consecutive victories against the Germans halted last year at St. Mark’s School in Dallas, Texas, swept the top three spots in the heptathlon – including champion Michelle Atherley with 6,079 points – to prevail by a 17,801 to 16,683 margin.

Despite Pitt’s Felix Wolter earning the win on home turf for Germany with 8,299 points, the U.S. secured the next five spots in the men’s decathlon to triumph for the first time in the series since 2016 by a 39,745 to 37,786 margin.

It marked the first time in meet history, which began in 1993 in Aachen, and added the women’s competition in 2006, that the Americans won both the heptathlon and decathlon team titles in Germany. The previous U.S. sweeps came in 2006 in Manhattan, Kan., and in 2016 in Fayetteville, Ark.

The American women hold a 12-4 advantage in the series, with U.S. men increasing the all-time edge to 15-13.

Atherley, a Miami (Florida) graduate and the reigning NACAC Combined Events winner, rallied from a three-point deficit against U.S. teammate and former Duke All-American Erin Marsh entering the 800 meters.

Atherley, 27, prevailed in the 800 in 2:12.69, with Marsh finishing fifth in 2:16.77, to earn the overall victory.

Marsh, 24, eclipsed the 6,000-point barrier for the first time in her career, placing runner-up with 6,024 points, with Kennesaw State graduate and All-American Jordan Gray taking third for the Americans with 5,698 points.

Atherley, who closed the deficit on Marsh following a 128-10 (39.28m) javelin throw, followed Chari Hawkins’ victory last year for the U.S. with 6,152 points.

It marked the first time since the American women had five consecutive individual Thorpe Cup wins from 2013-17 that the U.S. achieved back-to-back victories. Atherley and Marsh were also the first American teammates since Chantae McMillan and Lindsay Lettow in 2016 to both surpass 6,000 points in a U.S. 1-2 finish.

Marsh, who led following the opening day with 3,691 points, added to her advantage with a 20-3.50 (6.18m) long jump.

But the former Blue Devils’ standout only achieved a 112-10 (34.40m) javelin, allowing Atherley to place herself in a favorable position entering the 800, the event that also helped her capture the 2019 NCAA Division 1 indoor pentathlon title in Alabama.  

Serina Riedel, who won the long jump with a leap of 20-4.25 (6.20m), was the top German finisher in fourth with 5,696 points. Mareike Rösing was fifth with 5,498 points and Laura Voß secured sixth with 5,489 points.

Lexie Keller, a recent Colorado State graduate and All-American, earned eighth for the Americans with 5,453 points. Hope Bender, a former UC Santa Barbara All-American, didn’t race the 800 and finished ninth for the U.S. with 4,656 points.

Shaina Burns, a Texas A&M graduate and All-American, wasn’t a designated scorer for the Americans, but finished with 5,471 points.

Wolter, 25, was the first German athlete to emerge victorious since Andreas Bechmann accumulated 8,132 points in 2019 in Bernhausen. Wolter’s performance is the best winning score since American athlete Tom Pappas amassed 8,569 points in 2009 in Marburg.

Following a 75-point deficit against Wolter on the first day, reigning Thorpe Cup champion Austin West of Iowa trimmed the margin to only 14 points following a 144-4 (44.01m) effort in the discus throw.

But Wolter responded by clearing 15-9.25 (4.81m) in the pole vault and West managed only a 13-9.75 (4.21m) clearance, a 176-point difference, allowing the German competitor to take a commanding lead and never relinquish control in the final two events.

Although West, 23, won the 1,500 meters in 4:26.26 to finish with 8,158 points, Wolter produced a runner-up performance of 4:33.13 to capture the overall title. West improved on his winning score of 8,062 from last year in Texas.

Devon Williams, the 2019 U.S. decathlon champion and the 2017 Division 1 indoor heptathlon winner at Georgia, took over second place following a 15-5.50 (4.71m) pole vault clearance.

Williams, who took third overall with 8,087 points, also triumphed in the 110-meter hurdles in 13.89 seconds and the discus throw with a mark of 146-7 (44.68m).

Saginaw Valley State graduate and NCAA Division 2 champion Sam Black finished fourth overall with 7,869 points, former Houston Christian standout Denim Rogers was fifth with 7,829 points and Michigan State’s Heath Baldwin secured sixth with 7,802 points for the Americans.

Nico Beckers, who took third in the 1,500 in 4:43.68, was the next scorer for Germany, placing seventh with 7,546 points.

Rice’s Grant Levesque, who won the pole vault competition with a 16-5.25 (5.01m) clearance, was ninth for the U.S. with 7,354 points. Jack Flood, an NCAA Division 3 champion at SUNY Cortland, only completed five events for the Americans.

Harrison Williams, the reigning U.S. decathlon champion, and heptathlon qualifier Hawkins competed unattached in select events for the Americans in Marburg, along with Grenada’s Lindon Victor and Germany’s Niklas Kaul, all in preparation for performing Aug. 19-27 at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.