GÖTZIS, AUSTRIA, May 29–30 — Winning at this venerable late-spring kickoff to the elite multis season for a record sixth time, Damian Warner scared the decathlon’s 9000-point barrier with an 8995 score that added 200 points to the Canadian Record he had set here in ’18. Only 3 men have ever scored more points (see chart)
Hungary’s Xénia Krizsán raised her heptathlon best by a whopping 388 to an NR 6651 to claim the women’s title and a yearly world lead.
Warner, 31, came out firing. He dashed 10.14 in the 100 —just 0.02 off his PR — and long jumped an NR 27-2 (8.28), the latter eclipsing Ashton Eaton’s 27-0 (8.23) from the ’12 OT as the decathlon best.
With 46-11½ (14.31) in the shot, a PR-equaling 6-10¼ (2.09) high jump and a 47.90 clocking in the 400, Warner finished Day 1 of his first deca since the ’19 World Championships at 4743, the best wind-legal score ever and 322 ahead of fellow Canadian Pierce LePage.
Said the leader, “I had an awesome start. If I was ever to score 9000 points, this would be the best start that I’ve had. This thing is far from over. I’m going to come out and execute the best I can.”
A gifted hurdler, Rio bronze medalist Warner started day 2 with another deca world best at 13.36 (0.09 off his fastest). Warner threw the discus farther than he ever had before in a multi, 158-10 (48.43), and his 15-9 (4.80) vault matched his best in a dec — although he had cleared 16-¾ (4.90) en route to the World Indoor heptathlon silver in ’18.
As ’19 world champion Niklas Kaul cast his javelin a formidable 234-6 (71.49), Warner managed 195-1 (59.46), not among his stronger performances in the discipline.
“I can’t be too picky,” Warner said, “but I let myself down in the shot put and javelin and didn’t execute how I wanted.”
With a 4:24.73 best for 1500 back in ’15, he needed a PR 4:24.59 to reach 9000. He pressed hard for it yet came up just short with 4:25.19.
Nonetheless, Warner claimed a Commonwealth Record, bettering the 8847 score deca great Daley Thompson put up to win Olympic gold in ’84.
LePage in 2nd at 8534, Thomas Van Der Plaetsen (8430) and Vitali Zhuk (8331) all got PRs ahead of Kaul (8263) in 5th.
Of just missing his chance to become history’s fourth 9000-pointer, Warner said, “There’s a reason why only three guys have ever scored 9000 points. It’s not something that happens every single day or happens every single decathlon no matter how great you are.
“It’s something that just happens, and you have to go out there and you have to execute in each one of the events. And when you’re in position to get it, you got to take it in. Unfortunately, I had a ripe opportunity and I kind of let it pass me by, but I gave it my all and my legs are feeling it now.”
American Annie Kunz — starting the hept near the bubble at 23rd among performers during the Olympic qualifying period and with seasonal bests adding up to 6452, just 2 points short of the Tokyo auto-Q mark — had a great first day. She hurdled 13.12 (PR), high jumped 5-9¾/1.77, put the shot 49-11¼/15.22 and sprinted the 200 in 24.07 (PR) to lead at the break with 3897 from Anouk Vetter (3870) and Krizsán (3831).
Alas for the Texas A&M alum, the wind shifted frequently during the long jump and she fouled all three attempts, her second a promising leap had it come off the board.
Winner Krizsán, 28, reached three PRs on the first day — 100H (13.31), shot (47-5¾/14.47) and 200 (24.32). For her the LJ yielded a welcome boost in the shape of a 21-½/6.41 PR that moved her into the lead.
Vetter forged to the fore with a 179-8/54.77 javelin — 36 points ahead of Krizsán (5708). The Hungarian is a markedly superior 800 runner to the ’17 World Champs bronze medalist and took the contest running 2:11.51 to Vetter’s 2:22.33.
Vetter scored 6536 to Kendall Williams’ 6383, a yearly U.S. leader. While it was a subpar outing for the Doha 5th-placer, it was worse for the other U.S. entrants. Besides Kunz, no-mark events scuppered Taliyah Brooks (HJ) and Erica Bougard (SP).
GÖTZIS DECATHLON RESULTS
1. Damian Warner (Can) 8995 NR (WL) (4, 5 W) (10.14, 27-2/8.28, 46-11½/14.31, 6-10¼/2.09, 47.90 [4743–1], 13.36, 158-10/48.43, 15-9/4.80, 195-1/59.46, 4:25.19 [4252]);
2. Pierce LePage (Can) 8534 PR (10.30, 24-5½/7.45, 46-11½/14.31, 6-6¾/2.00, 47.65 [4421–2], 14.05, 158-3/48.25, 16-8¾/5.10, 187-2/57.06, 4:40.69 [4113]);
3. Thomas Van Der Plaetsen (Bel) 8430 PR (11.21, 25-11/7.90, 45-3¾/13.81, 6-10¼/2.09, 50.29 [4254–5], 14.36, 153-0/46.64, 17-8½/5.40, 197-0/60.05, 4:41.39 [4176]);
4. Vitali Zhuk (Blr) 8331 PR (10.96, 23-11/7.29, 55-3¾/16.86, 6-5½/1.97, 49.33 [4279–3], 14.77, 147-7/44.98, 16-¾/4.90, 213-9/65.16, 4:35.05 [4052]);
5. Niklas Kaul (Ger) 8263 (11.37, 23-9½/7.25, 47-8½/14.54, /2.03, 48.61 [4126–11], 14.61, 146-0/44.51, 15-5/4.70, 234-6/71.49, 4:28.86 [4137]);
6. Niels Pittomvils (Bel) 8222 PR (11.32, 24-3½/7.40, 48-10¼/14.89, 6-6¾/2.00, 49.94 [4104–13], 14.35, 155-1/47.27, 16-¾/4.90, 205-11/62.77, 4:34.73 [4118]);
7. Kai Kazmirek (Ger) 8190 (10.92, 24-3¾/7.41, 46-½/14.03, 6-8/2.03, 48.19 [4252–7], 14.56, 138-6/42.22, 16-4¾/5.00, 202-7/61.75, 4:44.71 [3938]);
8. Paweł Wiesiołek (Pol) 8161 (10.75, 24-2½/7.38, 47-5¼/14.46, 6-5½/1.97, 49.47 [4194–10], 14.84, 151-9/46.27, 16-4¾/5.00, 185-7/56.58, 4:35.70 [3967]);
9. Maicel Uibo (Est) 8157 (11.38, 23-5½/7.15, 48-8/14.83, 6-9/2.06, 51.05 [4033–17], 14.64, 150-10/45.99, 16-¾/4.90, 215-10/65.80, 4:31.00 [4124]);
10. Risto Lillemets (Est) 8156 PR (10.98, 23-4/7.11, 47-9/14.55, 6-6¾/2.00, 49.66 [4100–14], 14.33, 141-5/43.11, 16-4¾/5.00, 198-8/60.55, 4:30.72 [4056]);
11. Rik Taam (Neth) 8095 PR; 12. Mathias Brugger (Ger) 8073; 13. Kristjan Rosenberg (Est) 8032; 14. Fredrik Samuelsson (Swe) 7925; 15. Finley Gaio (Swi) 7899 PR; 16. Baptiste Thiery (Fra) 7766 PR; 17. Markus Rooth (Nor) 7738 PR; 18. Dennis Hutterer (Ger) 7709;
… dnf—Rafael Raap (Neth), Jan Doležal (CzR), Andreas Bechmann (Ger) , Rody de Wolff (Neth) , Axel Hubert (Fra), Basile Rolnin (Fra), Simon Ehammer (Swi).
GÖTZIS HEPTATHLON RESULTS
1. Xénia Krizsán (Hun) 6651 NR (WL) (13.31, 5-10¾/1.80, 47-5¾/14.47, 24.32 [3831–3], 21-½/6.41, 170-8/52.02, 2:11.51 [2820]);
2. Anouk Vetter (Neth) 6536 (13.35, 5-8½/1.74, 50-1¾/15.28, 23.65 [3870–2], 20-5¼/6.23, 179-8/54.77, 2:22.33 [2666]);
3. Kendell Williams (US) 6383 (AL) (13.11, 5-9¾/1.77, 42-7½/12.99, 23.72 [3784–6], 21-4¼/6.51, 144-8/44.11, 2:18.56 [2599]);
4. Maria Huntington (Fin) 6318 (13.44, 6-0/1.83, 43-2¼/13.16, 24.46 [3750–8], 21-5¼/6.53, 147-8/45.01, 2:22.72 [2568]);
5. Vanessa Grimm (Ger) 6316 PR (13.81, 5-9¾/1.77, 49-4¼/15.04, 24.19 [3773–7], 20-6½/6.26, 143-5/43.72, 2:16.35 [2543]);
6. Adrianna Sułek (Pol) 6315 PR (13.57, 6-1¼/1.86, 42-¾/12.82, 23.94 [3795–5], 20-7¾/6.29, 128-2/39.08, 2:12.38 [2520]);
7. Emma Oosterwegel (Neth) 6308 PR (13.69, 5-9¾/1.77, 42-10¼/13.06, 24.60 [3619–13], 19-11/6.07, 170-6/51.97, 2:13.06 [2689]);
8. Yorgelis Rodríguez (Cub) 6293 (13.98, 5-8½/1.74, 45-10¾/13.99, 24.89w [3574–18], 20-11¼/6.38, 162-7/49.56, 2:14.61 [2719]);
9. Adriana Rodríguez (Cub) 6255 (13.11, 5-9¾/1.77, 41-3¼/12.58, 23.83 [3746–9], 21-9½/6.64, 117-2/35.73, 2:16.62 [2509]);
10. Marthe Yasmine Koala (Bur) 6250 NR (13.08, 5-8½/1.74, 45-9¾/13.96, 23.74 [3812–4], 21-9½/6.64, 142-9/43.52, 2:33.49 [2438]);
11. Georgia Ellenwood (Can) 6224 PR; 12. Sophie Weißenberg (Ger) 6219; 13. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 6154 PR; 14. Anna Maiwald (Ger) 6119; 15. Louisa Grauvogel (Ger) 6017; 16. Odile Ahouanwanou (Ben) 5824; 17. Bianca Salming (Swe) 5754; 18. Esther Turpin (Fra) 5723;
… dnf—Miia Sillman (Fin), Annie Kunz (US) (13.12, 5-9¾/1.77, 49-11¼/15.22, 24.07 [3897–1], nm), Lucie Kienast (Ger), Nadine Broersen (Neth), Erica Bougard (US), Taliyah Brooks (US). ◻︎