Oregon Public Broadcasting

Day three of the Olympic Trials in Eugene featured the first five events of the decathlon and the final in the men's pole vault.  Northwest athletes are making their presence known, as Andrew Theen reports.

With former Oregon star Tommy Skipper out of contention in the pole vault, the hopes of the Northwest turned to former University of Washington vaulter Brad Walker.

Walker qualified in third place and is headed to the Olympics.  He said he felt the fans' support throughout.

Brad Walker: "Anytime they see the same competitor over and over again, and they jump well, and I was lucky enough to set the American record here a couple weeks ago they remember that.  So when I'm going down the runway they're like, that's the guy who set it!  And they get behind you and support you and that's huge."

Glendale native Tom Pappas rode a huge throw in the shot-put to third place after half of the decathlon events.

University of Oregon star Ashton Eaton is sitting in fifth place.

The decathlon wraps up Monday night.