Women Heptathlon After 2 Events
As expected, the women's Heptathlon is turning out to be a duel between two athletes.They have performed far above the other participants earlier this season, but their strat in the World Championships has been even better.
After two events, Carolina Kluft (SWE) is leading with 2255 points, while the French favourite, Eunice Barber, is only 19 points behind.
Barber, who always starts strongly in the 100m Hurdles, won the first event in 13.05 seconds. This was, however, well below her season's best of 12.88, recorded last weekend and further away still from the superb 12.78 she recorded in the opening event in Edmonton in 2001. Kluft's hurdle race went better as she bettered her personal best with 13.18 and only lost to Barber by 0.13 seconds.
Debnise Lewis (GBR) who is not in the shape she was when she won the Olympic Games in Sydney, recorded a season's best in the first event with 13.37.
For Lewis, it was the High Jump that turned out to be the disappointing event. She could only manage 1.64 metres and fell way behind in the total points.
The High Jump moved the two leaders over 200 points clear of the others. Both Kluft and Barber were very convincing and cleared several heights at their first attempts. With Barber having one misss at 1.82 metres, they went easily over 1.91. The personal best height for both competitors, 1.94, proved to be decisive. The Swede cleared again aty her first attempt, leaving Barber jumping alone. The French hope was not able to better her personal best and Kluft even had one very close attempt at 1.97m.
Kluft currently leads the competition with 2255 points, ahead of Barber's 2236. Julie Hollman (GBR) currently lies in third place, but will most likely not be able to keep that position during the competition. The most likely contender for the bronze is Yelena Prokhorova, the reigning World champion from 2001. The silver medallist from Edmonton, Natalya Sazanovich (BLR) and Lewis will likely be in the contest for the third place.
Kluft has again recorded personal bests in both of the first two events and is now the slight favourite to win the gold medal. The Shot Put will be the discipline to watch, as this is the event where Barber failed to produce a mark in Edmonton.
