Tom Pappas, from the United States, the leader after the first event of the Heptathlon at the 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships here in Birmingham following a personal best in the 60m, then produced two further PBs in the Long Jump, 7.53, then 7.56, to maintain the pressure on his more famous, more-medalled rivals in the two-day competition.
Pappas's two-event tally of 1872 points saw him extend his lead on all but two of his rivals. Significantly, one of those jumping further than the American was the defending champion, Roman Sebrle.
Iceland's Jon Arnar Magnusson, whose 7.63m first-round effort accrued 967pts for a running total of 1800 and third place, was the best long jumper, but Sebrle, from the Czech Republic, kept himself in contention to retain his title with a typically tough effort, pulling out a 7.62m jump in the final round to score 965pts and total 1823.
Of the others, Erki Nool, of Estonia, managed 7.38m to stay in touch overall (1759), seven points behind Lev Lobodin, of Russia, although Tomas Dvorak was again only eighth of the eight heptathletes, with 7.21m.
