Jordyn Bruce
Jordyn Bruce is now two-for-two in podium finishes for the decathlon.
The former Eagle River High and Illinois State standout placed runner-up at the USA Women’s Decathlon National Championships in Walnut, Calif., with a score of 6,445 points, notching personal bests in the discus, pole vault and 1,500-meter run.
A few short weeks separated Bruce’s two ten-event competitions, after collecting runner-up during her decathlon debut in France. The quick turnaround and time zone readjustments may have been dubious for some decathletes but for Bruce, it was a no-brainer.
The Lululemon ambassador kicked off her second career decathlon with a steady start, taking second in the 100 (12.85 seconds), followed by top-five finishes in the long jump (16 feet, 10 inches), shot put (34 feet, 8 inches), high jump (5 feet, 1 inch), and 400 (1:00.30).
At the end of day one, Bruce knew she had to rebound well to maintain her spot on the podium, ranking third out of 11 competitors after five events.
Bruce rose to the occasion, coupled with the encouragement of her competitors and the exuberance of being a part of the women’s World Decathlon Movement.
She took second in the 100 hurdles (14.64 seconds), third in the javelin (105 feet, 2.5 inches), and reeled off three personal bests in the discus (92 feet, 1 inch), pole vault (10 feet, 6 inches) and 1500 (5:27.69).
Eagle River’s Jordyn Bruce in the hurdles. Photo by Rob D’Avellar
Ohio’s Katie Straus took the top honors with 6,709 points, while Bruce finished runner-up with 6,445 points — 48 points ahead of New Mexico’s Haley Rizek.
“I had a little bit of a rough day one, but all the girls and their motivation got me right back on it and came back with a few PRs on day two,” said Bruce in a press release. “It was a great experience — I loved it.”
While her discus was an improvement by more than four feet, her pole vault ranks as one of the top marks all-time by an Alaskan woman, if not tied for the top mark.
Of those who have competed in pole vault during high school, Eielson High’s Teslin Brannan holds the top mark at 10 feet, 6 inches, from March of this year, surpassing her previous best by two inches. Before Brannan, Chugiak High’s Tia Barnell held the unofficial Alaska prep record of 10 feet, 0.25 inches, set in 1989.
So far, there are no known female vaulters from Alaska who have competed at the college level, let alone professionally.
The closest connection is UAA’s Mette van der Meer (Netherlands) who pole vaulted 11 feet, 8 inches to set the indoor program record in 2022.
Even more impressively, Bruce only took up pole vaulting and discus two months ago, under the tutelage of David Brannan — the Eielson High head coach and Salcha Dome/Alaska Pole Vault Club founder — and Alaska Running Academy’s Rafael Echavarria.
After completing seven events and still posting an incredible mark in the pole vault, one may marvel at where Bruce’s ceiling is for the event.
As Bruce continues to enter uncharted territory in the decathlon, both inspired by her competition and motivated by her supporters, the 25-year-old athlete closes out her first professional season with her head held high.
“Years ago, they said women couldn’t participate in sports, claiming our bodies couldn’t handle the stress of marathoning, boxing, or even pole vaulting. To this day, we cannot participate on the Olympic stage in a decathlon,” shared Bruce on Instagram. “I’m humbled to be proving alongside all these amazing ladies that women are capable.”
Eagle RIver’s Jordyn Bruce (middle) with other podium finishers.