Decastar 98 report day 1
Laura Arcoleo in Talence
Talence, in the Bordeaux region, South West of France, very well known for his wine and gastronomic food, has given rendezvous to the specialists of the combined events this week-end for the 23rd edition of the Decastar, which has been included in the First IAAF World Combined Events Challenge introduced this year by the IAAF.
Among the very deep field of participants, Eduard Hamalainen, Lev Lobodin (RUS), Chris Huffins (USA) and Jon Arnar Magnusson (ISL) have come to Talence to try to win the first IAAF World Combined Events Challenge.
After 25 competitions and with just the Commonwealth Games to go, Talence will be the very latest chance for them to improve their position in the Challenge, currently led by Erki Nool (EST). Nool heads the overall standings with a total score of 25967 points obtained by the addition of his best three competitions of the year (Götzis, Tallin and Budapest). Erki Nool, reigning European Champion, withdrew from Talence just a few hours before the technical meeting, yesterday, feeling tired after a very long and demanding season.
Despite the chilly weather conditions, rain and wind, Chris Huffins managed to accomplish an astonishing 10.47 in the 100m, the first of the ten events included in the Decathlon. This gave him the lead with 982 points ahead of Magnusson, 926 points (10.71).
Chris Huffins kept the lead after two events thanks to a good third attempt in the long jump. 7.71m converted into 987 points which placed him well ahead of Magnusson (ISL), 1969 to 1888 points. Huffins though seemed to be suffering from a knee injury after a bad landing in the third attempt.
The American then suffered a big disappointment in the shot put where he didn’t manage to do better than 14.54m well below his personal best of 16.44m. Huffins lost the lead to Magnusson who shot put to 16.61 for a new personal best. The Icelander took the lead with 2777 points, 47 ahead of Huffins and 52 ahead of his overall best.
A ray of light making its appearance in the Stade de Thouars did help Chris Huffins, diminished by a knee injury but still wanting to continue the competition. With a very reduced approach of the bar - only 5 steps - Huffins cleared 2.07m, an unexpected result that kept him in the contest for victory. Magnusson cleared 2.04m to keep the lead but with only 19 points ahead of the American and with Chmara and Lobodin gaining positions, both having cleared 2.07.
In the 400m, Jon Arnar Magnusson clocked a very good 47.75 to improve his lead. After the first day of competition, the Iceland, 25 points ahead of his personal best’ is in the best position for the challenge even if he will have to produce a tremendous second day of competition to finish ahead of Erki Nool, not competing in Talence. Magnusson would need more than 8700 to take the lead in the Challenge and be awarded the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge Prize Money of US$ 30,000 given this year for the first time by the IAAF to the winner of the challenge.
Still competing for one of the eight prize money winning places of the IAAF World Combined Event Challenge, in addition to Nool and Dvorak both absent, Lobodin (RUS), Hamalainen (FIN) and Chmara (POL) respectively fourth, third, second of the Decastar after day one.
Despite all efforts, American Chris Huffins will have to abandon the idea of winning the first IAAF World Combined Events Challenge after his race in the 400m where he clocked a ridiculous 54.77. The injury he suffered in the long jump event was determinant. Huffins has declared his will to complete the Decathlon and has ensured the crowd that he will do all his best to be present for Day 2.
Results after Day One
Magnusson (ISL) 4538
Chmara (POL) 4320
Hamalainen (FIN) 4295
Lobodin (RUS) 4248
Sebrle (CZE) 4229
Huffins (USA) 4206
Damasek (CZE) 3866
Rosendaal (NED) 3745
Levicq (FRA) 3720
In the women’s field, Ursula Wlodarczyck (POL) currently in the lead of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge with 19174 points (an average of 6391 points per competition) ahead of Irina Belova (RUS), 19146 points before Talence, is the obvious favourite for victory in the challenge.
Still, Kelly Blair-Labounty (USA) and Remiglia Nazaroviene (LIT) who have only competed in two Heptathlon so far this year can pretend to victory in the challenge. With the four girls present in Talence, it is very likely that the one who wins the Decastar will be the winner of the first IAAF World Combined Events Challenge.
Nazaroviene entered the competition with an excellent 13.30 in the 100m hurdles, better than what she did in Budapest, which places her in the lead with 1080 points with Wlodarczyk and Blair respectively 13.39 and 13.66.
The high jump was dominated as expected by French Marie Collonville who cleared 1.87 and took the lead ahead of Wlodarczyk (1.81) and Nazaroviene (1.78) with Kelly Blair back in 6th position after a disappointing 1.75 in the high jump achieved under the persisting rain.
Shot put was dominated by Natalya Sazanovitch (BLS) who is not in the contest for the overall challenge win, with 15.29m. Wlodarczyck and Nazaroviene, respectively 14.20 and 14.14 still closely battling for victory.
In the 200m, Sazanovich and Nazaroviene showed their sprinting qualities clocking 23.96 and 24.25 respectively with Wlodarczyck finishing in 24.44.
Sazanovitch (BLS) leads the Decastar with 3822 points after day one ahead of Wlodarczyck (POL) and Nazaroviene (LIT). The Polish, though, who has an impressive second day of competition is already 29 points ahead of her personal best and should manage to improve her lead in the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge and keep her rivals well behind.
Results after Day one
Sazanovitch (BLS) 3822
Wlodarczyk (POL) 3803
Nazaroviene (LIT) 3793
Rashchupkina (RUS) 3642
Brown (GER) 3639
Collonville (FRA) 3619
Nathan (USA) 3606
Belova (RUS) 3562
Blair (USA) 3515
Bacher (ITA) 3417
Teppe (FRA) 3385
Marrot (FRA) 3225
