Confident Cvelbar Works to Reach Decathlon Goals

Maybe it's the way he talks while pushing his chair back on its hind legs, or maybe it's the way he describes his 10 years of success in track and field.

But whatever it is, you get the feeling that he knows how to win.

"The best part about the decathlon is going to track meets and knowing that there are certain guys who just go there for one event and practice all the time for it," Cvelbar said.

"And I come out there after spending about 30 minutes every day doing it, and beat somebody that's specifically trained for something. That's the best feeling."

As a decathlete, Cvelbar competes in 10 events in two days, with 30-minute rests between events. The events cover all of track and field's disciplines, from distance running and sprinting to jumping and throwing.

But by no means is the track standout a show-off. He's dedicated. He's a man who knows that the only way for his goals to become reality is with time and effort.

Cvelbar starts practice roughly an hour and 15 minutes before the rest of the team, but he finishes with everyone else.

He throws with the team's best throwers, jumps with the team's highest jumpers and runs with the team's fastest runners.

But it's not just what Cvelbar does at practice that makes him so good.

"He realizes the full scope of the decathlon," UNC coach Dennis Craddock said. "He's what I call a student of the event. In other words, he just doesn't come to practice everyday and think that that's what's going to make him a great decathlete.

"He studies about it. He knows other great decathletes, and he knows how they train. He puts all those things together, and that's what makes him really good."

Cvelbar spent his freshman and sophomore years at Kent State where he made it to track and field's World Junior Championships and broke the school's record in the heptathalon.

After realizing that Kent State wasn't the best place for him, Cvelbar came to North Carolina, giving the Tar Heels one of the best collegiate decathletes in the nation.

"Doors open all the time," he said. "They shut real quickly, but they do open. You just have to know when to stick your foot in them."

And with the help of the UNC coaches, his switch to North Carolina has been flawless. Cvelbar has been able to keep the training methods he used at Kent State and apply them to his workouts at North Carolina.

But because of injuries and NCAA rules, he had to wait two years before competing for UNC as a junior. Despite a layoff that would cause most athletes to lose their racing instincts, Cvelbar scored 7,269 points in his first meet back, a personal record.

He achieved this March 22 at the Florida State Relays to grab first place, earn ACC Performer of the Week honors and qualify for NCAAs. He won four out of five events on the last day of the relays to come from behind to win.

"It's very easy to talk ourselves out of things, but the secret is to talk ourselves into things," Craddock said.

"A (personal record) after having a two-year layoff is quite remarkable. It says a lot about his work ethic. It says a lot about his focus and ability to get the job done."

Some of Cvelbar's success might be because of his 6-foot-6 frame. Unlike most decathletes, who tend to be short and stocky, Cvelbar has the body of a basketball player and jumping ability better than most basketball players.

When he's around some of his teammates, including 6-4 John Schuna, 6-5 Kestutis Celiesius and 6-7 Rory Magner, it's no wonder why they're asked about what team they play for.

"A lot of track and field is simple leverage, simple physics when it gets down to it," Cvelbar said. "Being tall has its advantages because it makes some things easier.

"But we get asked all the time if we're the basketball team. We just say no and take pride in saying you're on the track team."

It's easy to take pride in being the ACC's leading decathlete. It's even easier when you have the potential to be one of the top three decathletes in the nation.

But even without such promise, there's something about Cvelbar that makes you believe he'd still be just as confident.

"Mike's competitive about every aspect of life, whether it's in the room or on the track," said roommate and high jumper Adam Shunk.

"He's a confident guy who's very proud of what he does."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.