Report18 Aug 2016


Report: decathlon discus – Rio 2016 Olympic Games

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Kevin Mayer in the decathlon discus at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (© AFP / Getty Images)

A 45.49m throw from Ashton Eaton – his best in a championships decathlon since 2011 – put the defending champion back on course for a 9000-point score in the decathlon.

He opened with 43.16m before producing his best mark in the second round. He then backed it up with a final effort of 45.39m.

With three events to go, Eaton has a lead of 115 points over the rest of the field. Even if some of his opponents make a bit of a dent on that lead in the next two events, Eaton has the luxury of knowing that he is one of the best 1500m runners in the field.

Mayer continued putting together the series of his life, throwing 46.78m – his best ever throw in a championships decathlon – to bring his tally to 6211.

The Frenchman is now within 72 points of Damian Warner, who threw 44.93m in the discus. The Canadian isn’t as strong as Mayer in the next event, the pole vault, so he will likely relinquish his second-place position in the overall standings.

Germany’s Kai Kazmirek continued to apply the pressure on Warner, throwing 43.25m to move within 156 points of Warner. Like Mayer, Kazmirek is usually stronger than Warner in some of the remaining events, so could theoretically challenge for the bronze medal.

Algeria’s Larbi Bourrada set his second PB of the competition, throwing 42.39m to remain on course to break his own African record.

Leonel Suarez, a notoriously strong second-day performer, moved up the leaderboard by another five places into 10th. After two fouls, the Cuban produced the second-best throw of his life, 47.07m.

Oleksiy Kasyanov also registered fouls with his first two throws, but the outcome for the Ukrainian wasn’t quite as good as it was for Suarez. His final effort wobbled out to just beyond 30 metres, but – knowing that it wouldn’t be enough to mount a serious challenge for the medals – he intentionally fouled and will take no further part in the competition.

Grenada’s Lindon Victor was the top performer in the discus, unleashing a throw of 53.24m. His mark was just 55 centimetres shy of the Olympic decathlon best.

Japan’s Keisuke Ushiro (49.90m) and USA’s Zach Ziemek (49.42m) were the only other men to throw beyond 49 metres.

Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF

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