News25 Jun 2009


Smith overcomes weather and Sebrle; Dobrynska dominates in Kladno

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Maurice Smith competing in Kladno (© Jan Kucharcik, www.atletika.cz)

Kladno, Czech RepublicOvernight leader Roman Sebrle, the reigning World champion and World record holder, after mediocre results in the Discus and Pole Vault (43.54m and 4.60m) yesterday was beaten by Jamaica’s Maurice Smith, the 2007 World silver medallist in the men's Decathlon in the third edition of the TNT-Fortuna Combined Events meeting (23 / 24 June).

In continuing difficult weather (rain and wind) Smith went into the lead after the hurdles and increased his margin over Sebrle, the inaugural winner of this competition, with an excellent 51.45m Discus effort.

Algerian Larbi Bouraada, who was second after the first day did not finish the hurdles and so was out of contention.

Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan, the World bronze medallist in 2007 also came back with a good Discus release of 50.79m and went past Sebrle in the overall standings.

In the Javelin Throw, Sebrle counter-attacked with 63.56m a distance which was 10 metres better than Smith's and also Karpov's efforts, and so re-took second position.

In the final 1500m nothing changed in the order, leaving Smith the victor with 8157pts (10.88 - 725 - 14.67 - 197 - 48.35 - 14.09 - 51.45 - 470 - 53.14 - 4:46.43), Sebrle second with 8058 (11.15 - 7.66 - 14.76 - 206 - 50.72 - 14.43 - 43.54 - 460 - 63.56 - 4:52.90) and Karpov in third with 8029 (11.07 - 697 - 16.02 - 200 - 50.64 - 14.63 - 50.79 - 490 - 55.89 - 4:53.23).

Fourth place went to New Zealander Brent Newdick who improved his PB to 7849 points.

“It was very difficult in this weather… After the Pole Vault I started to feel pain in my Achilles, so I was happy to finish,” said Sebrle for whom it was his 70th decathlon and 44th over 8000. Nobody else has acquired such stats in the history of this event.

Dobrynska dominates Heptathlon

Olympic winner Natalya Dobrynska dominated the Heptathlon with final score of 6249 points (13.94 - 173 - 14.97 - 25.16 - 635 - 48.56-2:18.17). She was the best in the Long Jump (635) and Javelin (48.56).

Uzbekistan's Yulia Tarasova was second and scored a solid 5916 (13.81 - 173 - 12.36 - 24.56 - 627 - 40.92 -2:21.61). An excellent third was taken by Helga Margret Thorsteindottir of Iceland who at age of 18 improved the national senior record and European leading junior mark of the year 5878 points (14.19 - 173 - 14.09 - 24.77 - 578 - 40.17 - 2:16.40).

In junior boys Decathlon Czech Adam Pasiak qualified for European Junior Championships in Novi Sad with 7404 score.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

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