Olympic Decathlon Update

Also, Eaton's 100m time is a new Olympic best for the dec 100m. Previously, the fastest 100m during Olympic Decathlon was 10.41 by Bill Toomey from back in 1968.

thanks for the updates, keep them coming.

Will try to, but anyone else can chime in. ;-) They won't start the next decathlon event until the evening session begins (or 1pm EST).

FYI: details on why Sebrle was a DNF (Yahoo!Sports)

The 37-year-old [Roman] Sebrle – an icon in the decathlon – qualified for these Games but withdrew after running the slowest 100 meters of the day with a heel injury. Sebrle said his heel has been hurting for several weeks and wouldn't allow him to compete in the long jump, prompting him to announce his retirement from the Olympic Games. "The 100 meters was OK for pain, not time," Sebrle said. "I tried to compete as long as possible, but in the long jump I could not run. … [The London Games] is now the last one. I have enjoyed it. But my image saying goodbye to the Olympic Games was not this one. It is time for another man. [Eaton] is amazing."

49 times over 8000. Incredible

Good start for Eaton. He PR's (for the decathlon) in the shot put; ran an olympic decathlon record in the 100m & long jumped within 50 points of his WR decathlon. A very strong start. I think the HJ is a big key for him, because he is obviously going to dominate the 400m. At the US Trials, he high jumped 2.05 - so we'll see if he can better that at the Olympics.

At this point, it seems like he is only chasing the Olympic Record, as I don't believe he can get his WR after the 100m & Long Jump. The Olympic Record is 8893 & he is certainly on pace for that.

I dont think that Hardee will beat Eaton but it looks like he has lost some weight since the trials. He looks a lot leaner and it also looks as if he has a little more bounce in his step.

I hope Eaton can beat his high jump from Eugene. Conditions for the high jump were very bad there, with a lot of rain. Eaton took a very abbreviated run-up due to poor footing.

Eaton just cleared 2.02 meters in the HJ.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

I hope Eaton can beat his high jump from Eugene. Conditions for the high jump were very bad there, with a lot of rain. Eaton took a very abbreviated run-up due to poor footing.

Based on the video footage, it looks pretty sunny out. The announcers are commenting that the 200m people warming up are enjoying the sun. Should be good jumping weather.

old coach man wrote:

49 times over 8000. Incredible

That is very impressive. I'm frankly impressed with anybody who has completed 49 decathlons. Seem most only finish 2-3 per year.

Eaton clears 2.05m. Hardee clears 1.99m.

Is Hardee normally that taped up on his legs?

Hardee out as 2.02m, Eaton out at 2.08m, so above marks stand.

hj wrote:

Hardee out as 2.02m, Eaton out at 2.08m, so above marks stand.

So same as Trials. Thanks for the updates. How many more competitors are still doing the HJ?

Better weather than Eugene should push Eaton to near his 400 PR, which would put him at almost the same day 1 points total as the trials. His Day 1 was arguably better than his Day 2 (for his abilities) at the trials, so I think WR is still very much a possibility, esp. if he throws down the hammer in the hurdles and builds off that momentum.

The deca WR is a lot to ask.

Eaton is hugely impressive, no matter what happens at these games. He will go on to better his WR; if he doesn't do it here, that is no big deal.

This should be seen as a good deca competition, with Eaton setting the standard to which everyone else is aspiring.

Agree with poster upthread who thought Hardee was leaner and in better shape than at trials. To me, he looked strong at trials, but not quick.

This is a great competition even without Sebrle and Clay. I hope the big guys like Karpov can complete the competition uninjured.

Sprintgeezer wrote:

The deca WR is a lot to ask.

Eaton is hugely impressive, no matter what happens at these games. He will go on to better his WR; if he doesn't do it here, that is no big deal.

This should be seen as a good deca competition, with Eaton setting the standard to which everyone else is aspiring.

Agree with poster upthread who thought Hardee was leaner and in better shape than at trials. To me, he looked strong at trials, but not quick.

This is a great competition even without Sebrle and Clay. I hope the big guys like Karpov can complete the competition uninjured.

Certainly not suggesting I would be disappointed if he didn't break it again! But you don't don't always get a second chance, esp. in the decathlon. When the opportunity is there to go for it, you go for it. And considering the weather conditions in Eugene, he's got an excellent shot at this point to smash his own previous WR.

"But you don't don't always get a second chance, esp. in the decathlon. When the opportunity is there to go for it, you go for it."

No truer words were ever spoken.

I hope he gets it, too.

Only Leonel Suarez of Cuba jumped higher at 2.11m (906 pts). Seven guys at 2.05m (850 pts).