by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
One just isn't enough.
For junior decathlete Dan Feltman, he likes ten times the challenge of a normal track and field athlete.
"I get bored if I just do one event," he said. "I always like a good challenge."
On the way to his first NCAA Championship appearance, Feltman is about to take part in the biggest meet of his career so far.
Despite a year in which he had to endure some frustrating injuries, Feltman fought through them and made his way to Sacramento, Calif., to compete for the Lobos in the men's decathlon. Feltman is ranked 18th in the country going into the meet with a career best score of 7,278 at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays earlier this year.
In the first race of the 2005 indoor track season, Feltman suffered a quadriceps injury that kept him out the remainder of the indoor season and until the Mt. SAC Relays.
"It kind of hurt me not having an outdoor season," Feltman said.
Feltman said he is prepared to finish strong at the NCAA Championships, though.
"I've had some really good practices in the past couple of weeks," he said. "I feel like I'm starting to peak at the right time."
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The multi-event decathlon fits Feltman because he has always been an all-around great athlete.
While attending high school in Deming, N.M., Feltman won seven state titles in track and field, and was a two-year letterwinner as the quarterback of the football team.
Feltman said in high school he participated in every track and field event. He said he fell in love with the decathlon his freshman year at UNM.
At the NCAA Championship, he will begin the first five events - 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter run - on Wednesday, then complete the decathlon on Thursday with 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run.
Feltman said he enjoys most of the events, but there are a couple he likes more than others.
"I guess you could say I'm better at javelin, but I also really like the 400," he said.
Being a representative of UNM is also something Feltman is proud of. Coming out of high school, he said he knew he wanted to be a Lobo and that he would be a good fit.
"I really liked the program and the coaches," he said. "I just really wanted to compete."
After his collegiate career, Feltman said he hopes to continue competing.
"I think I can go pretty far," he said. "My goal is to make it to the 2006 U.S. Nationals and hopefully the 2008 Olympics."
In no way, however, is Feltman taking his focus off what is at hand. He is prepared to go to Sacramento and contend with the nation's best all-around athletes.
"I am definitely ready to compete," he said. "I just need to go do what I know I'm capable of."
