Two Stanford record holders in the multi-events, senior Josh Hustedt and junior Lauren Stewart, join a team of other Stanford multi-event athletes in heading off to Tempe, Ariz. this weekend for the Pac-10 Multi Championships.

Hustedt holds the school record in the men’s heptathlon with a score of 5,359 points, while Stewart holds the school record for the female’s pentathlon with a score of 3,788 points. Both records were set in 2006. Hustedt, from Utah, will compete in the decathlon this weekend, for which he is currently ranked third in the Pac-10. Stewart, from Tennessee, will compete in the heptathlon this weekend; Stewart is ranked fourth in the Pac-10.

Track multi-events, like Hustedt and Stewart, have a long and glorious history. When Jim Thorpe won the decathlon in the Stockholm Olympics of 1912, the King of Sweden named Thorpe the “World’s Greatest Athlete.” Indeed, the event tests an individual’s speed, strength, skill, endurance and mental toughness. The demanding and tasking event allows little rest, as several different athletic abilities are called upon.

Hustedt had a successful freshman year at Stanford in 2003, recording some of the team’s best times, throws and jumps throughout the season. After spending two years on a Mormon mission, Hustedt returned in 2006 as a sophomore, and went on to place fourth in the decathlon at Pac-10 Championships. He also recorded several top marks during that year, along with being the top long jumper for the Cardinal. Hustedt’s highest level of success thus far has come this year — he placed second in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships, scoring 5,836 points.

Hustedt was named an All-American after his second place finish, marking the second time that he received such honors. This weekend, he’ll look to make his mark at Pac-10s, improving his current score while also adequately preparing himself for the NCAA Championships in June.

Stewart also had an incredibly successful freshman year on the Farm, setting a freshman record in the heptathlon at Pac-10 Championships. She broke the school record in the pentathlon and contributed as a 100-meter hurdler and high jumping for the Cardinal. In her sophomore year, Stewart finished fifth in the pentathlon at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Indoor Championships. This year has already proved successful for Stewart, who has numerous top finishes in the event.

Other Stanford athletes competing this weekend include sophomore Kara Bennett and freshman Whitney Liehr. Bennett placed twelfth in the heptathlon at Pac-10s last year with a career best of 4,416 points, while Liehr came in third at the California Invitational Heptathlon earlier this season, with a personal best score of 5,126 points. Liehr has also had several individual event wins this year. Lexie Spiranac, another freshman, will also be competing. Joining Hustedt for the men will be freshman Corey Dysick, who has already made his mark on the Farm this year. The 2007 Arizona decathlon champion, Dysick is certainly a notable athlete in the event.

The small contingent of Stanford multi-event athletes hope to run, jump and throw their way to victory this weekend. Following their outing this weekend, the rest of the Stanford track and field team will head to Tempe, Ariz. next weekend for the general Pac-10 Championships.