Sacramento, California -- Overwhelming favorite Trey Hardee failed to defend his decathlon title at the NCAA track and field championships when he was unable to clear a height in the pole vault, one of his best events.
The Texas senior's stunning blunder cleared the way for Arizona junior Robert Jacob Arnold to win with 7870 points. Chris Helwick of Tennessee was second at 7772.
Hardee stayed in the competition despite missing three times at 4.80, and finished ninth at 7263.