Meanwhile, Mid-Ulster decathlete Paul Tohill bettered 7, 000 points for the first time at a meeting in California last week.

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"Maybe it doesn't even mean that much to the rest of the world, " said Eaton, who eclipsed Czech decathlete Roman Sebrle's 11-year-old mark of of 9, 026 points.

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For Eaton, or any decathlete competing for a medal, the trick is getting through the pole vault, a dastardly maneuver that can spell doom if he can't manage to at least clear the bar at an opening height.

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