WASHINGTON – A pair of Georgetown University football alums – Alec May (C'15) and Jake DeCicco (B'16) – took part in the D10 Decathlon in New York City (D10 NYC) last month, competing in the one-day, 10-event championship that serves as a fundraiser for various charities that support pediatric cancer treatment and research.
 
Each year, D10 has events in 10 different cities across the United States. Competing at Columbia's Wien Stadium, May and DeCicco were two of approximately 250 athletes challenging each other in 10 events that test their strength, speed, stamina and agility. This year's D10 NYC raised more than $1.5 million, a record for any D10 event, for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
 
The two Hoya alums took time to talk to GUHoyas.com about participating in the event.
 
Alec May
Was this your first time taking part? What made you get involved?
This was my fourth-straight year competing. I heard about it during my internship at Nomura and knew I wanted to compete once I was out of college - although back then it was called the Wall Street Decathlon and was only open to the finance industry. I thought it would give me something to train for and help me stay in shape once my playing days were over, and obviously support a great cause.
 
Georgetown football's partnership with Friends of Jaclyn allowed me to meet two great kids in Jackson and Elijah, so the pediatric cancer mission of the decathlon just meant that much more to me.
 
How did you train? What event was easiest for you and which was hardest?
I tried to maintain a similar training schedule to what we did in college, while substituting in workouts for specific events like the 400m run and 500m row. The strength-based events like bench press or 500m row were the easiest for me, and the cardio/running events like the 400m or 40yd dash have been more difficult. The 40yd dash every year is a nice reminder that I'm still slow.
 
Did you and Jake have any special competitions against each other?
We didn't have any specific competitions. He got me this year in the overall standings, but I beat him last year. So I guess that makes 2020 the tiebreaker.
 
Jake DeCicco
You did this last year too. What made you get involved?
Yes, this was my second year competing and my older brother Jimmy's third year. The D10 is the most elite athletic event in NYC and we wanted to compete against top tier athletes while also raising money for an incredible cause.
 
How did you train? What event was easiest for you and which was hardest?
Training was a lot like winter conditioning workouts on the Hilltop! A lot of explosive lifts and a lot of time on the track doing conditioning work. None of the events are easy. Naturally, I am best at the running events and the 800m is event that I've placed first overall in the past two years.
 
I think any D10 athlete will tell you unanimously that the 500m row is the hardest event. This kills you. Tell Coach [Rob] Sgarlata to see if any of his guys can row a sub 1:20 in the 500m row.
 
Did you and Alec have any special competitions against each other?
Alec and I were in different heats so we didn't get the chance to compete live against each other in any specific events. Being in different heats though, it is pretty awesome because we get to watch each other compete and cheer each other on. It felt like when we would cheer on the defense and for Alec to come up with a big third down sack.
 
What is your favorite part of the event?
The 400m sprint is the opening event of the Decathlon. Jim and I compete head-to-head in the elite heat. It is pretty awesome because we train together every day and we both know going into the event that it is going to be a battle down to the end. The last two years we both finished first & second overall in the 400m, separated by less than one second. This year Jim set the all-time D10 record with a time of 49.5 seconds.
 
All in all, the D10 is an incredible community of girls and guys who still want to compete at a high level and share the mutual goal of raising both money & awareness in the hopes to move towards a cure for cancer. It's pretty epic.