PORTLAND — Ashton Eaton won his fifth World title, his third in the heptathlon, with 6470 points tonight at the Oregon Convention Center. It is the second best heptathlon score on U.S. soil.

Heading into the seventh and final event of the competition, Eaton needed a massive effort in the 1000m to break his World record of 6645 points. Armed with a personal best of 2:32 from 2010, the "World's Greatest Athlete" needed a sub-2:30 to come close to breaking (another) World record. U.S. teammate Curtis Beach torched the field, crossing 800m in under 2:00 to finish in 2:29.04. Eaton tucked in quickly behind Beach, but did not pursue the hot pace. He crossed the line in 2:35.22.



He walked away from the competition with season best marks in the high jump (1.99m), long jump (8.08m), shot put (14.16m) and 1000m. After claiming the win, Eaton told the crowd that he was still more excited about his wife's win in the pentathlon. No World record, no problem. Eaton is still the best multi athlete in the World and that's good news heading into the outdoor season.

His longtime coach Harry Marra told FloTrack that he was "numb" from excitement after both of his athletes, Ashton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton won gold in Portland. "I should go get a lotto ticket this weekend. I'm pretty lucky!" Marra joked.



In a valiant effort, fellow American Beach ran out of his mind to win the 1000m in a new World indoor record, but it was not enough to earn a medal. He finished fourth with 6118 points, only a mere 8 behind Germany’s Mathias Brugger. It is the smallest point difference between bronze and fourth place in World Indoor championship history.

After having Tommy John surgery last year, Beach enjoyed season best marks in the 1000m, high jump (2.02m), long jump (7.65m) and shot put (13.12m). This was his first appearance on a U.S. senior team.

Barbara Pierre's Incredible Start Leads to 60m Gold Over Favorite Dafne Schippers

Team USA's Barbara Pierre won her first ever World title over global medalists Dafne Schippers, Elaine Thompson and Tori Bowie. Pierre was a monster out of the blocks and never lost momentum. Sprinters, watch this if you need help with your start. TAKE NOTES.



“You know it’s so funny,” Pierre told FloTrack. “People see a great start, but I know myself. Yes I did get a great start but I stumbled on the third step, but I recovered.”

She crossed the line in 7.02, the second-fastest mark in the world this season. Schippers, the World 200m champion and 100m silver medalist, was never fully able to recover from a slower start and earned silver in 7.04. Jamaican World 200m silver medalist Thompson finished in 7.06 for bronze. The spread between first, second and third (0.04 seconds) is the second-smallest difference in World Indoor championships 60m history. 

Michelle Carter Executes Comeback Win in Shot Put

In a clutch come-from-behind final effort, Michelle Carter heaved the shot put to a mark of 20.21m, breaking the American record and winning the World Indoor Championship over 2015 World finalist Anita Marton and two-time Olympic gold medalist Valerie Adams. 

Heading into the sixth attempt, Carter had to better Marton’s sixth attempt of 19.33m in order to win the title. She did that and more when she heaved the shot to 20.21m, leaving the competition and the national record in the dust. 

“It was great. I was just thinking about focusing on what I needed to do to bring all the nerves down and calm down, just really relax and let that work for me,” Carter said.

Carter’s performance improves upon her bronze medal from the 2015 World Outdoor Championships last August and stands as her best finish ever at an international competition.