STORY SUMMARY>>>

Born in Texas but raised in Kaneohe, Castle High School graduate Bryan Clay won the gold medal in the decathlon Friday in Beijing.

Clay's 240 point victory is the most lopsided win in the track and field event since the 1972 games in Munich.

Relatives in Hawaii burned the midnight oil Thursday while keeping track of Clay's progress.

Lorreta Monroy was in constant contact with family members who were watching Clay compete in Beijing's Birdnest Stadium.

"After every event they would call us and say how many points Bryan's leading with; he's still in the running; he's still number one," said Monroy, who works as a chef instructor at Windward Community college where she erected a tribute to her newphew inside the cafeteria.

"For an aunt or anybody in the family that's been able to see this little boy grow up and follow his goals and his dreams and being a witness to seeing him achieve all of this has been unbelievable."

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist in Athens and 2005 world champion, Clay, 28, finished with 8,791 points while competing in China.

The competition started with the 100 meter run in heavy rain Thursday.

Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus took silver at 8,551, and Leonel
Suarez of Cuba was third in 8,527.

Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic, the reigning world and
Olympic champion, finished sixth.

Dan O'Brien was the last U.S. athlete to win the Olympic
decathlon, at Atlanta in 1996.

Clay, who lives in Glendora, California will visit Hawaii for three days starting August 29.

An autograph party will be held that day at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center starting at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.