At the start of the World Cup decathlon in Eugene, the German athletes delivered mixed performances. Defending champion Niklas Kaul remained over 100 m and slightly below his potential in the long jump. Olympic champion Damian Warner from Canada is in front, the best DLV athlete is World Cup debutant Leo Neugebauer. The decathlon events in Eugene at a glance.
11.17 seconds over 100 m and 7.36 m in the long jump – these are Niklas Kaul’s personal bests in a decathlon. In Eugene, he started the World Championship competition with a time of 11.22 seconds and 7.09 m. The defending champion, whose season was marred by injuries, is also slightly behind his performances at the World Cup in Doha 2019. However, Kaul traditionally has better cards on the second decathlon day when “his” technical disciplines are on the program. In the overall standings, the man from Mainz is currently only 20th.
“In the first discipline, the event is neither won nor lost,” said national coach Christopher Hallmann immediately following the 100m races on ZDF. He will not have changed his mind following the long jump.
Damian Warner clearly in the lead
After the first two of the ten disciplines, Olympic champion Damian Warner from Canada clearly leads the field of 22 athletes. He ran the 100 m fastest (10.27 m), plus a set of 7.87 m in the long jump. That earns him 2,057 points in the overall standings. World record holder Kevin Mayer from France (10.62 seconds/7.54 m) has 1,892 points to his credit – in the intermediate ranking that means sixth place.
Everything is going according to plan for Olympic champion Damian Warner.
Leo Neugebauer as the best German in ninth place
The best German before the shot put (from 9.10 p.m. CEST) is still the 22-year-old World Cup debutant Leo Neugebauer (11.07 seconds/7.46 m) with 1,770 points in ninth place. Kai Kazmirek, third at the World Championships in London 2017, is 14th (1,751) following 11.19 seconds over 100 m and 7.49 m in the long jump. Tim Nowak (11.43 seconds/7.13 m) is currently the weakest of the German decathlon quartet with 1,612 points.
Leo Neugebauer can be satisfied with the start of his first World Championship competition.
The schedule of the decathlon
Three more disciplines follow on the first day: the shot put (9:10 p.m. CEST), the high jump (Saturday, 1:10 a.m. CEST) and the 400 m (3:55 a.m. CEST).
The disciplines of the second day: 110 m, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500 m.
