Andrei Kravchenko from Belarus in the Talence Pole Vault (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Andrei Kravchenko, the World Indoor Championships silver medallist in the Heptathlon, tallied 8585 points to win the European Cup Super League combined events competition at Fanny Blankers Koen Stadium in Hengelo on Sunday (29).
This competition along with all lower levels of the European Cup count as part of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge 2008.
Kravchenko, 22, added 81 points to the previous season pacing mark, the 8504 total by Dmitriy Karpov on Gotzis, Austria, earlier this month. His was also the best performance ever in The Netherlands. After his 4413 score for the overnight lead, Kravchenko ran 14.17 in the 110m Hurdles, reached 41.85m in the Discus Throw, scaled and outdoor PB of 5.20m in the Pole Vault, and threw the javelin 64.09m before finishing off the day with a 4.29.92 in the 1500m to cap off his 2008 outdoor debut. Kravchenko has an 8617 career best from his victory in Gotzis one year ago.
Romain Barras of France was a distant second, tallying 7974, just ahead of Estonian Andres Raja, who scored 7964.
Kravchenko's victory led the men of Belarus to the team title with 24,160 points, well ahead of the host Dutch squad, which tallied 23,367 points.
Anne Melnychenko of the Ukraine took the women's title with a personal best of 6306 points. She opened the day with a 6.34m leap in the Long Jump, threw the javelin 41.89m and finished with a 2:15:38 run in the 800m. Her previous career best, 6203, was set earlier this month at the national championships in Yalta. Behind her four other women passed the 6000 points barrier: runner-up Antoinetta Nana Djimo of France with 6204, Dutchwoman Jolanda Keizer (6105), 4. Lyudmyla Yosypenko of Ukraine (6094) nad Russian Yana Panteleyeva (6019).
The Ukrainian women took team honours with 18,187 points, ahead of Russia (17,980) and France (17,483).
Wiberg, Skujyte the winners in Jyväskylä - European Cup Combined Events First League
Swede Nicklas Wiberg lead Sweden to the team title at the First League competition in Jyväskylä, Finland. The 23-year-old tallied 8040, his first venture above 8000 points, to win handily from Oleksiy Kasyanov of Ukraine, who tallied 7874 points, and Briton Daniel Awde (7751).
2004 Olympic silver medalllist Austra Skujyte of Lithuania won the women's Heptathlon with a 6101 score, ahead of Swede Jessica Samuelson (6057) and Francesca Doveri of Italy, with scored 5885.
Italy prevailed in the team battle, totalling 17,062, to win from Sweden (16,982) and the Czech Republic, who scored 16,667.
Bob Ramsak and Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
