Chase Pacheco

 With just two decathlon's under his collegiate belt, Chase Pacheco has climbed to No. 2 in the nation for junior college decathletes.
 The Hartnell College track and field standout produced four personal bests earlier in the week in capturing the Northern California title with 6,507 points -- a 367 point improvement.
 All of a sudden ,7,000 points is within the Palma High graduates reach as he gears up for the state championships in three weeks, and the 19-under Junior Nationals in June in Eugene, Oregon.
 While Pacheco set personal bests in the 400, 110 high hurdles, pole vault and 1,500, he wasn't even close to his top marks in the shot and long jump.
 Plus the javelin and discus have been on-the-job training for the freshmen, who was a sprinter and long jumper in high school.
 Of course, that's part of the test of competing in 10 events over the course of 10 days. Once upon a time, an Olympic decathlon champion was called the Worlds Greatest Athlete.
 Pacheco is now fourth on Hartnell's all-time decathlon list behind North Salinas grad Erick Knight, North County alum Neil Lahey, and former Carmel product Chris Brown.