GÖTZIS, AUSTRIA, May 31-June 01 — At the 50th edition of the heavyweight Hypo Meeting of multis stars, Sander Skotheim followed up his gold medal performance in the World Indoor heptathlon in March with a huge improvement to No. =7 all-time in the decathlon at 8909 with the meet’s No. 3 score ever.
Like women’s hept winner Anna Hall, The 23-year-old Norwegian was competing here for the first time since ’23, when he set a then-PR 8590 (he improved to 8635 with last year’s Euro silver). He entered with just the ninth-best PR score on a list that was topped by the 9018 of 8-time Götzis winner Damian Warner, who like Skotheim had his Paris Olympics medal dreams quashed by a no-height in the vault.
Skotheim was on PR pace from the first event before not taking the overall lead until Day 2.
Ayden Owens-Delerme led after the 100 as his 10.33 beat deca dash WR holder Warner (10.39) as they raced into a 1.0mps headwind. A new leader emerged after the long jump with Simon Ehammer leaping 27-4½ (8.34) . The only deca LJ farther is Ehammer’s own DWR of 27-8¾ (8.45). Skotheim PRed in both events at 10.70 and 26-5½ (8.06).
Owens-Delerme regained the lead after the shot before Kyle Garland went to the front after an exciting high jump that had three over 7-½ (2.15). That trio included Skotheim, who finished Day 1 with a 47.47 in the 400 for 4611 points — 45 points up on PR pace but in 3rd behind Owens-Delerme (4652) and Ehammer (4620).
Tricky swirling winds had nearly everyone down in the Day 2-opening 110H, with Skotheim one of the few exceptions at 14.12, a deca PR. Skotheim was 3rd in the discus with a huge lifetime best of 161-4 (49.18) that was behind only the matching throws of 168-10 (51.74) by Leo Neugebauer and Karel Tilga. The Norwegian was now in the lead by 17 points at 6423, 130 up on his PR pace.
Skotheim could and did add generously to his lead in the vault. He was one of three to clear 16-8¾ (5.10) — seemingly low for someone with a PR of 17-6½ (5.35), but it was far above the 15-1 (4.60) in his PR score as he now had a lead of 78 points and projected to 8916.
A near-deca PR of 201-8 (61.46) in the javelin increased Skotheim’s lead to 119 points as his projection inched up to 8919. Despite having a 1500 PR of 4:16.60, he cruised 4:23.88 for a total of 8909, breaking the Norwegian record of 8796 set by good friend and rival Markus Rooth in winning the Paris gold.
Garland, bolstered by a strong Day 2 that included his two longest discus efforts, was runner-up at 8626, gaining a WC qualifying score. Tying for 3rd at 8575 (also with WC Qs) were Simon Ehammer with a Swiss Record and Germany’s Niklas Kaul with his best total since winning ’19 WC gold at 8691.
GÖTZIS DECATHLON RESULTS
1. Sander Aae Skotheim (Nor) 8909 NR (WL) (=7, =9 W) (10.70, 26-5½/8.06, 45-10½/13.98, 7-½/2.15, 47.47 [4611-3], 14.12, 161-4/49.18, 16-8¾/5.10, 201-8/61.46, 4:23.88 [4298]);
2. Kyle Garland (US) 8626 (AL) (10.50, 24-9/7.54, 52-11½/16.14, 7-½/2.15, 49.00 [4585–4], 14.04, 161-1/49.10, 16-¾/4.90, 192-9/58.77, 4:49.69 [4041]);
3. Simon Ehammer (Swi) 8575 NR (10.57, 27-4½/8.34, 44-7½/13.60, 6-9/2.06, 47.18 [4620–2], 13.57, 134-7/41.02, 16-8¾/5.10, 181-5/55.30, 4:47.96 [3955]);
3. Niklas Kaul (Ger) 8575 (11.12, 24-1/7.34, 49-6¼/15.09, 6-8/2.03, 48.16 [4257–13], 14.69, 156-8/47.77, 15-9/4.80, 236-7/72.13, 4:16.40 [4318]);
5. Leo Neugebauer (Ger) 8555 (10.66, 25-11½/7.91, 52-3¼/15.93, 6-6¾/2.00, 47.84 [4543–5], 14.81, 168-10/51.47, 16-8¾/5.10, 178-1/54.28, 4:45.73 [4012]);
6. Damian Warner (Can) 8527 (10.39, 24-7¾/7.51, 47-3½/14.41, 6-6¾/2.00, 47.57 [4424–7], 13.76, 155-4/47.34, 15-5/4.70, 204-5/62.30, 4:38.44 [4103);
7. Ayden Owens-Delerme (PR) 8486 (10.33, 25-1¼/7.65, 53-1½/16.19, 6-6¾/2.00, 46.20 [4652–1], 14.09, 129-9/39.55, 15-9/4.80, 178-3/54.35, 4:34.76 [3834);
8. Heath Baldwin (US) 8430 (10.77, 24-7¼/7.50, 47-6¼/14.48, 6-11½/2.12, 48.72, 14.01, 134-4/40.94, 15-9/4.80, 216-7/66.03, 4:36.83);
9. Karel Tilga (Est) 8405 (10.91, 248½/7.53, 51-11¼/15.83, 6-3¼/1.91, 49.27, 14.89, 168-10/51.47, 14-9/4.50, 228-3/69.59, 4:27.29);
10. Jeff Tesselaar (Neth) 8249 PR (10.68, 23-10¼/7.27, 45-¼/13.72, 6-5½/1.97, 47.13, 14.82, 150-11/46.00, 15-1/4.60, 179-4/54.66, 4:08.31);
… dnf—Lindon Victor (Grn) 2633 (10.52, 24-2¼/7.37, 47-7¼/14.51), Hakim McMorris (US) 3299 (10.54, 24-5½/7.45, 46-7¼/14.20, 6-¾/1.85), Pierce LePage (Can) 6026 (10.70, 24-4¼/7.42, 50-¾/15.26, 6-8/2.03, 49.59, 14.59, 154-8/47.15), Jack Flood (US) 4877 (11.19, nm, 47-5¾/14.47, 6-8/2.03, 50.70, 14.53, 149-8/45.63), Harrison Williams (US) 6115 (10.57, 24-8½/7.53, 50-8¼/15.45, 6-4¼/1.94, 46.86 [4432–6), 14.68, 152-0/46.32, nm).
