# Ayden Owens-Delerme

Ayden Owens-Delerme (born 28 May 2000) is a Puerto Rican decathlete. He finished fourth at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

## Early life

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Owens-Delerme first came to broad recognition as a multi-sport athlete at statewide athletic powerhouse North Allegheny in suburban Wexford. Michael Owens, Ayden Owens-Delerme's father, captained the 1980 basketball team at University of Virginia.

## Prep

Owens is 2018 Gatorade Pennsylvania Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Owens-Delerme concluded his prep career ranked Top 10 nationally in seven different track events. Owen is a 2018 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state champion in the 110 meters hurdles (13.69), 300 meters hurdles (36.68), 200 meters and finished second in the long jump 7.09 m (23 ft 3 in) representing North Allegheny Senior High School at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. At the 2018 PIAA Class AAA meet, Owens-Delerme won three events and finished second in another, single-handedly winning the state title for North Allegheny. Owens is a four-time New Balance National All-American and won the 2018 New Balance indoor 60 meters hurdles title with a state-record time of 7.59 and was the decathlon champion at the 2017 New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

## NCAA

Owens-Delerme was a grad of North Allegheny before attending University of Southern California where he was named 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and then University of Michigan where he earned 2021 Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year, before transferring to the University of Arkansas for whom he won the 2022 NCAA championship decathlon, following which he was named the 2022 SEC Field Athlete of the Year. Owens-Delerme graduated with a BS Biomedical Engineering from University of Michigan in 2021 and graduated from University of Arkansas Walton College of Business MBA program in 2023.
Owens-Delerme is a 9-time NCAA Division 1 All-American, 3-time NCAA Champion, 2-time Southeastern Conference Champion, 1-time Big Ten Conference Champion, 1-time Pac-12 Conference Champion, and 17-time All-Conference finalist.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing University of Arkansas ||||||
| 2023 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Texas at Austin | 8th | 4x400 meters relay | 3:03.66 |
| 2023 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Texas at Austin | 10th | 400 meters hurdles | 49.82 |
| 2023 | SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Louisiana State University | 1st | 400 meters hurdles | 48.26 |
| 2023 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2nd | Heptathlon | 6518 points |
| 2023 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1st | 4x400 meters relay | 3:02.09 |
| 2023 | SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arkansas | 1st | Heptathlon | 6237 points |
| 2022 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Oregon | 1st | Decathlon | 8457 points |
| 2022 | SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Texas A&M University | 7th | 4x400 meters relay | 3:06.83 |
| 2022 | SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Texas A&M University | 5th | 110 m hurdles | 13.84 |
| 2022 | SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Texas A&M University | 2nd | 4x100 meters relay | 39.24 |
| 2022 | Mt SAC Relays | Mt SAC | 1st | Decathlon | 8528 points CR |
| 2022 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Birmingham CrossPlex | 1st | Heptathlon | 6211 points |
| 2022 | SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships | Texas A&M University | 5th | 60 meters hurdles | 7.89 |
| Representing University of Michigan ||||||
| 2021 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Oregon | 2nd | Decathlon | 8114 points |
| 2021 | Big 10 conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Illinois | 1st | Decathlon | 8238 points |
| 2021 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arkansas | 3rd | Heptathlon | 5995 points |
| 2021 | Big 10 conference Indoor Track and Field Championships | SPIRE Institute Indoor Track & Field Facility – Geneva, OH | 8th | 60 meters hurdles | 8.45 |
| Representing University of Southern California ||||||
| 2019 | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Texas at Austin | 16th | Decathlon | DNF 4890 points |
| 2019 | Pac-12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arizona | 14th | Javelin | 50.17 m (164 ft 7 in) |
| 2019 | Pac-12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arizona | 19th | Long Jump | foul |
| 2019 | Pac-12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arizona | 1st | 4x400 meters relay | 3:05.73 |
| 2019 | Pac-12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arizona | 3rd | 110 m hurdles | 13.76 |
| 2019 | Pac-12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Arizona | 3rd | 4x100 meters relay | 39.74 |
| 2019 | Bryan Clay Invitational | Azusa Pacific University | 1st | Decathlon | 8130 points |
| 2019 | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Texas A&M University | 6th | Heptathlon | 5809 points |
| 2019 | MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships | University of Washington | 7th | 60 meters hurdles | 8.09 |
| 2019 | MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships | University of Washington | 1st | 4x400 meters relay | 3:06.40 |
| 2019 | MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships | University of Washington | 14th | Long Jump | 6.79 m (22 ft 3 in) |
| 2019 | MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships | University of Washington | 19th | Shot Put | 12.91 m (42 ft 4 in) |

## Professional

Despite being born and raised in Pennsylvania, Owens-Delerme represents the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on the international stage, as his family on his mother's side are Puerto Rican and he visited the island yearly in his childhood.
Competing at the 2022 World Athletics Championships decathlon in Eugene, Oregon, Owens-Delerme was placed third overall after the 100 metres, shot put and long jump events and took the lead overnight after a personal best 45.07 in the 400m. After subpar second-day performances in the javelin and pole vault, he fell behind eventual champion Kevin Mayer and others, eventually finishing 4th.
He competed in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the decathlon, finishing in ninth place overall.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Puerto Rico ||||||
| 2023 | World Athletics Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 16th | Decathlon | 6148 points 8 events |
| 2023 | Central American and Caribbean Games | San Salvador, El Salvador | 1st | Decathlon | 8281 points |
| 2022 | World Athletics Championships | Eugene, United States | 4th | Decathlon | 8532 points NR |
| 2018 | World Athletics U20 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 12th | Decathlon | 6744 points |
| 2018 | Puerto Rico U20 Outdoor Championships | Peñuelas, Puerto Rico | 1st | 200 meters | 21.29 |
| Representing United States ||||||
| 2017 | USATF U20 Outdoor Championships | California State University, Sacramento | 12th | 110 meters hurdles | 14.19 |
| 2017 | USATF U20 Outdoor Championships | California State University, Sacramento | 26th | 400 meters hurdles | 54.99 |
| 2016 | USATF U20 Outdoor Championships | California State University, Sacramento | 1st | 400 meters hurdles | 53.13 |
| 2015 | USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships | University of North Florida | 3rd | Decathlon | 5626 points |

## Personal bests

Information from World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.
    As of May 20, 2024
| Event | Performance | Location | Date | Points |
| Decathlon | 8,732 points | Walnut | April 18, 2024 | 8,732 points |
| 100 meters | 10.27 (+1.2 m/s) | Walnut | April 13, 2022 | 1,030 points |
| Long jump | 7.82 m (25 ft 7+3⁄4 in) | Albuquerque | March 10, 2023 | 1,015 points |
| Shot put | 16.26 m (53 ft 4 in) | Walnut | April 17, 2024 | 867 points |
| High jump | 2.04 m (6 ft 8+1⁄4 in) | Fayetteville | January 28, 2022 | 840 points |
| 400 meters | 45.07 | Eugene | July 23, 2022 | 1,056 points |
| 110 meters hurdles | 13.57 (+3.8 m/s) w | Fayetteville | March 16, 2024 | 1,031 points |
| Discus throw | 46.88 m (153 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Walnut | June 23, 2023 | 806 points |
| Pole vault | 5.10 m (16 ft 8+3⁄4 in) | Walnut | April 18, 2024 | 941 points |
| Javelin throw | 59.28 m (194 ft 5+3⁄4 in) | Walnut | April 18, 2024 | 727 points |
| 1500 meters | 4:13.02 | Eugene | July 24, 2022 | 860 points |
| Virtual Best Performance | Virtual Best Performance | Virtual Best Performance | Virtual Best Performance | 9,173 points |

## International competition record

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
| Representing Puerto Rico ||||||
| 2018 | World Junior Championships | Tampere, Finland | 12th | Decathlon (Junior) | 6744 points |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | 4th | Decathlon | 8532 points |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | DNF | Decathlon | DNF |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 9th | Decathlon | 8437 points |