Following the inspiration victory of Cal Poly decathlete James Nunno at the Big West Conference multi-event championship last weekend, the Mustangs don’t have to look far to find motivation for this weekend’s Big West Conference championship.
The senior was severely injured following a 2008 pole-vaulting accident on campus that left him with a ruptured spleen. He would miss the rest of the season after having his spleen removed and losing three pints of blood.
“I definitely wouldn’t say I’m back at full capacity,” Nunno said of his conditioning.
If that’s true, the rest of the nation had better be on notice.
Nunno’s score of 7,208 points was a personal-best for the senior. He is expected to compete for Cal Poly in the pole vault and the 4×400 relay this weekend.
“At the beginning of this season was the first time I felt I could train at full force, but I felt like I haven’t hit a peak.”
Aside from the conference championship in Irvine this weekend, Nunno is also waiting for word from the NCAA as to whether he will be invited to the national championships in the decathlon.
For now he will focus on helping the team this weekend. Track and Field director Terry Crawford said that his story was something the entire team could rally around.
“I think it’s a great credit to his determination and his desire to win that he was able to come back and able to address that fear factor,” Crawford said. “He is just getting his strength back and his confidence back. I don’t think he ever looked back, he just looked ahead knowing that he had another year of eligibility… he’s really raised the whole bar for our entire team.”
The Mustangs will head to Irvine without top sprinter Jarred Houston. Houston, who is also a receiver for the football team, was injured in spring football practice.
The women’s team also has some high expectations going into this weekend’s championship.
Pole-vaulter Jenna Homes is the only athlete in the conference to clear 13 feet and has gone over the regional standard five times this season.
Ogonna Agu could place in multiple events. She is seeded in the 100 and 200 meters and should compete in the Cal Poly relay team.
“I think this is going to be a good experience for our team and we’ve got some great senior leadership like James Nunno and Kevin Jones who is going to be everywhere running sprint, relay and pole-vaulting,” Crawford said. “I think that’s going to be the equalizer. This weekend can still cap off a solid season team that we can be proud of.”