March 18, 2024

Big 12 decathlon champ has Newton ties

Taylor Sanderson, a fifth-year senior at Iowa State, won the Big 12 decathlon May 12-13 in Fort Worth, Texas. Sanderson is the grandson of Clyde and Mary Wiley of Newton.

Sanderson’s 7,206 point total in the decathlon qualified him for the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore. He is ranked 14th nationally.

Sanderson’s mother, Kathy, is a Newton High graduate along with his two aunts, Diane Van Wyk and Laura Meixner, and his uncle Mike Wiley. His father, Jeff, is the pastor of Bondurant Federated Church.

Sanderson has an older brother Ryan and two younger siblings, Joshua and Lydia.

Sanderson was a four-sport letterman at Bondurant High School. He competed in football, basketball, track and baseball.

Sanderson is going to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for his master’s degree. He plans to be a college athletic director.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com