Fresh off an indoor heptathlon national title, Shakiel Chattoo turns his attention to the outdoor season and the decathlon.
The freshman will have additional competition in the event from his own teammates. Senior Justin Balczak, who won the heptathlon at last year’s indoor meet and the decathlon at last year’s outdoor meet, didn’t have any remaining indoor eligibility this year, but will be back on the track for the outdoor season. He also placed 10th at last summer’s USA Track & Field championship.
Chattoo dominated the indoor heptathlon. His 5,554 points in the event placed his name in the history books with the seventh-best performance in Division II history. However, his performance was still 52 points behind Balczak’s winning score from last year.
Now, the two will compete in the 10-event decathlon. Balczak admits that he is impressed with the accomplishments of Chattoo thus far.
“Last year when I won, it was real exciting because I had been working up to that for about three years,” Balczak said. “These guys are animals, especially Chattoo. When I was a freshman, I wasn’t even thinking about winning a national title, so it’s just impressive. What he’s done so far is just ridiculous.”
Chattoo believes that a majority of their success as multi-event athletes comes through bonding and having a relationship with his teammates. Comparing them to family, he explains that he’s grateful to have that support, because they want what’s best for each other.
“We have a form of cohesiveness. The team itself has this togetherness and motivates you in whatever circumstances you’re going through. I just love everything about this school right now. I’m so humbled through this,” Chattoo said.
The other two men’s multi-event athletes, junior Miles Poullard and freshman Corey Reid, have had a major impact on the team as well. Reid finished in ninth place at the indoor nationals, scoring 5,072 points, while Poullard came in at 10th place, scoring 5,061 points. Both athletes will compete in the decathlon with Balczak and Chattoo. Reid’s goal is to not only make nationals, but to also regain his national record in the 400-meter dash and the decathlon.
“For the multis, we all have different strengths, so we mentor each other. Right now, me and Justin [Balczak] help Shak [Chattoo] with pole vault, because that’s one of his weaker events, but one of our best. Then Shak will help us with our long jump, because that’s his best event,” Reid explained.
All of the multi-event athletes have developed a sense a humor on the track and use that to their advantage when competing. Knowing that there is a time for everything, they use that humor to help their teammates survive the long practices.
“In practice, we have to crack jokes and mess around sometimes, because we’re out here one to two more hours than everybody else every day. So, they’re long days and we’re miserable,” Reid said. “You got to find the joy and happiness in it. If you stay too serious for this long, you’re going to get worn out.”
Chattoo added to that theory, believing that by keeping the atmosphere fun, they generate positive thoughts and happiness. It’s another one of the many ways they help each other get better.
“These guys are some of the best people that I’ve come amongst thus far. [Balczak] cracks me up daily, and [Reid] always says some ridiculous stuff that cracks me up; I’m just here to add to it. I think we have a perfect bond right now, and we’re recycling it. I really appreciate these guys,” Chattoo said.
No matter what, even though they may compete against each other as teammates, APU’s men’s multi-event athletes all support each other to do their very best. From Balczak to Chattoo, and Reid to Poullard, an interesting relationship has been formed to help them all succeed, and so far the formula has worked well.
“So between all of us, we want each other to do well,” Balczak said. “I may not want one of them to beat me, but I want them to do their best, and if they beat me at the end because they did their best, that’s perfectly fine.”
The next track and field outdoorevent will take place in San Diego at the Aztec Invitational on March 25 and 26.