Desenzano winner Karolina Tyminska (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Desenzano del Garda, ItalyAfter consistent second day performances, Poland’s Karolina Tyminska and Chris Boyles of the USA emerged as the winners at the Multistars – IAAF Combined Events Challenge – in Desenzano, del Garda, Italy.
Tyminska, a European indoor finalist in the Pentathlon in Madrid lass year, overhauled overnight leader Ganna Melnychenko after the javelin en route to a new PB of 6178 points, thanks to an impressive 2:05.67 in the 800m. Boyles won the Decathlon with 7855 points to finish ahead of Italy’s William Frullani, the overnight leader, who talled 7807 points.
Strong 800 the key for Tyminska
Melnychenko opened day two leaping to a good 6.38 in the long jump (969 points) but Tyminska responded well with 6.34 (956 points).
The athlete from Poland went to the lead after throwing 37.54 in the javelin (620 points) holding off Melnichenko who produced a 35.70 release. A solid 46.01 m. (783 points) moved Italy’s Elisa Trevisan from fifth into third.
Tyminska dominated the 800 race from gun to tape clocking a notable 2:05.67 for 1029 points. Behind the Pole the final ranking did not undergo significant changes with Melnychenko second ahead of Trevisan.
“When I saw the starting list I thought that I had a good chance to win,” said Tyminska. “Last year I got an injury during the European Cup but I could prepare well during the winter for the National Indoor Championships. I scored 6187 points and this is more than I expected. I wanted to achieve 6000 points. I scored 6187 points and this is enough to get the qualifying standard for the European Championships set by the Polish Federation.”
Trevisan was delighted with her third place in Desenzano. “It was the first competition of the season and for this reason I was not in my best form,” she said after moving up from fifth after the first day. “But I qualified for Gothenburg. It was great to compete every year in this meeting where the organizers make us feel at home.”
Pole Vault the difference for Boyles
The ranking at the end of day one remained unchanged after the 110m Hurdles where Frullani maintained the lead ahead of Americans Ryan Olkowski and Boyles, running 14.98 (852 points). Estonia’s Andres Raja narrowed the gap on Boyles after running the fastest time in the 110 hurdles with 14.56 (903 points). Italian Luca Ceglie backed up his fifth place running the second fastest time in the 110 hurdles with 14.57.
Frullani won the discus event with 45.75 (782 points) defending his lead with three events to go. Boyles improved to second place after throwing 41.97 (705 points) ahead of Raja who overhauled Olkowski.
Before the Pole Vault Frullani had a total score of 5818 points to Boyles’s 5642. The Pole Vault did not produce any significant changes in the ranking but the US specialist vaulted 4.90 (880 points) to Frullani’s 4.50 and reduced his gap to just 56 points with two events to go (6578 to 6522).
Boyles climbed to the lead after a 58.25 throw in the Javelin Throw to Frullani’s 53.14. Before the final 1500 metres race Boyles led with 7234 points to Frullani’s 7213.
No significant changes occurred at the top of the ranking at the end of the 1500 metres. Third was Raja with 7619 points. Only Italian Luca Ceglie improved from fifth to fourth to move ahead of Olkowski.
“On the eve of the meeting I felt pain in my back. I feared that it was a stress fracture,” said Boyles. “When I came here I didn’t know how my back would have responded to the efforts. I was a bit worried. I finished day one in third place but I had a good second day. I cleared 4.90 in the Pole Vault despite my back injury. I am particularly happy with my new PB in the shot put (14.87). Now I go home hoping that my back will be ok soon.” Next up for Boyles is the U.S. national championhips on 24-25 June in Indianapolis. “There I want to qualify for the NACAC Combined Events Championships in Pouerto Rico.
Frullani also achieved his pre-event goal of reaching the Italian Federation’s qualifying standard for the European Championships in Gothenburg.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
