The first event of the men’s Heptathlon day two provides more dramatics to the World Indoor Championships. Roman Sebrle (CZE), who had five medals from five World Indoor Championships before Valencia and was in second place after the first day, hit the second hurdle hard and was on the track after an apparent injury to his left hamstring. Sebrle could not even walk following his injury and was carried off the track on a stretcher.
With the Decathlon World record holder now out of the competition, the medals have been decided given that there is no surprise in the next event, Pole Vault, with for example some not clearing their opening height.
Day one leader and pre-competition favourite Bryan Clay continued his commanding grip on the event taking a clear win in a fast 7.86s time, 0.12 seconds below his Heptathlon world best 7.74s earlier this winter. The American is now leading with 4753 total points and a huge margin of 326 points before Andrei Krauchanka (BLR), who is in second place with 4427 points after an 8.11s clocking in the 60m Hurdles. No athlete was able to reach their season’s bests following the usual false starts and Dmitriy Karpov (KAZ), with a disappointing 8.15s result in the hurdles, is 3rd with 4367 points.
Andres Raja (EST) is 4th with 4346 points just 21 points behind the medals, but he has to do extremely well in the next event, Pole Vault, because the athletes in front are all better pole vaulters than the Estonian. Donovan Kilmartin (USA) is 5th with 4260p and Mikhail Logvinenko (RUS) 6th with 4252p.
Projected final scores (using season’s best):
Bryan Clay SB 6192 - projected 6313 +121p
Dmitriy Karpov SB 6229 - projected 6155 -74p
Andrei Krauchanka SB 6229 - projected 6145 -84p
Mikhail Logvinenko SB 6129 - projected 6030 -99p
Andres Raja SB 5949 - projected 6011 +62p
Donovan Kilmartin SB 6008 - projected 5950 -58p
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
