EUGENE, Ore. – In the track and field world, Hayward Field is known for producing its own brand of magic.
 
Wisconsin standout Zach Ziemek experienced a little "Hayward Magic" again Sunday, with the man that's come to be known as "Double Z" earning a spot on Team USA for the Olympic Games by finishing third in the decathlon with a personal-best score of 8,413 points.
 
"It was always my goal to make the Olympics," Ziemek said, "but to actually have it come to reality and accomplish it, it is just crazy to me."
 
Ziemek's score of 8,413 -- the fifth-best ever by a collegian -- broke his own Big Ten Conference record mere weeks after he recorded 8,300 points en route to a runner-up finish at the NCAA outdoor championships at Hayward Field.
 
Ziemek finished behind only defending Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder Ashton Eaton, who scored 8,750 points, and Jeremy Taiwo, who was second with 8,425.
 
The trio who will make up the American contingent in Rio de Janeiro all competed for the U.S. at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, where Eaton won the world title and Ziemek finished 15th.
 
"It's great to be on the team with Ashton and Jeremy," Ziemek said "We're hoping to do great things in Rio."
 
Ziemek, who graduated from UW in May, is the first collegiate competitor to make Team USA in the decathlon since Tennessee's Eric Long represented the U.S. in Barcelona in 1992. 
 
"It's been incredible," Ziemek said of his time in Madison. "Coach Ed Nuttycombe recruited me to come to Wisconsin and the transition from Nutty to Nate (Davis) has been a smooth transition. I wouldn't be here without them.
 
"Wisconsin has been so great to me, it means everything to me."
 
Ziemek is the second member of the Wisconsin track and field program to qualify for the Rio Olympics, as Kelsey Card earned a place on Team USA in the women's discus on Saturday.
 
"When she made the team, she told me it was my turn to go," Ziemek said. "To be able to represent Wisconsin -- we hope that our younger kids can bring the program to the next level -- it means everything to us to start this."
 
"Good things happen to good folk who do the things the right way," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "Zach never lost focus on fulfilling his Olympic dream. He epitomizes everything about what we stand for at Wisconsin. His preparation is meticulous, consistent and unwavering.
 
"Every time he goes out there, he believes in his training and his preparation. That's a credit to Zach and to his event coach, Nate Davis."
 
Ziemek shined Sunday in the discus, winning the competition with a heave of 158 feet. That, combined with a time of 14.94 seconds in the 110 hurdles to open the day, meant Ziemek held the coveted third spot in the overall standings heading into the pole vault.
 
He put a subpar vault performance at the NCAA meet behind him, clearing his first four bars cleanly before getting a second-attempt clearance at 17 feet, 2 3/4 inches -- the best mark in the field and one that moved him into second place overall behind Eaton.
 
"I went back after NCAAs and we worked some high jump and pole vault because they are worth so much (points)," Ziemek said. "I knew I have vaulted high heights before, and I didn't need to have a mental block, so I tried to go out there and jump high."
 
Heading into the 1500 meters after a solid mark in the javelin, Ziemek held a 102-point lead on former Georgia star Garrett Scantling and a 189-point advantage on Taiwo as the three former collegiate rivals battled for the final two spots on Team USA.
 
Ziemek finished the 1500 meters in 4:48.21, while Taiwo jumped both Ziemek and Scantling on the strength of an outstanding time of 4:17.35.
 
Ziemek is the 17th Olympian in UW men's track and field history and the first to compete in the decathlon, which is set for Aug. 17-18 in Rio.
 
"I'm going to go out there and compete with everybody," Ziemek said. "I would love to medal, and that is what I'm going to shoot for."