Medal hope Leo Neugebauer made a mixed first day of competition in the decathlon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, while Niklas Kaul became more and stronger. The American Kyle Garland is in the lead. Till Steinforth got out of his operated bar with problems.
After the first five disciplines with 4455 points, Leo Neugebauer is in fourth place, almost 160 points behind the leading Kyle Garland from the USA (4707). Niklas Kaul worked better and better into the World Cup competition for discipline and ranks eighth with 4167 points. That gives hope for more, especially since the strengths of the 27-year-old are on the second day.
At Leo Neugebauer there is a bit of sand in the gear. He is not as free as usual, the outlier is missing.
“It will be a very exciting story,” predicts ARD light athletics expert Frank Busemann. “Niklas Kaul fumbled into the competition really well. Leo Neugebauer is still sand in the gear.”
“Elfen discipline” is the night
It will be crucial how the athletes can get the night as so -called “eleventh discipline” and regenerate. Due to the long journey in Tokyo, Sunday begins for Kaul and Co. The starting signal for the 110 meters of hurdles will then be found at 9.05 a.m. (2:05 a.m. CEST, live at sportschau.de)
Kaul with PB over 400 meters
In the final 400-meter run, Kaul underlined his good shape with his second best performance on this day. The world champion of Doha 2019 was very satisfied with 48.13 seconds. Neugebauer, who had to deal with knee problems at the high jump, only achieved a mixed time with 48.27 seconds.
Kaul convinces in the high jump
After the break of several hours, Kaul delivered a sparkling clean jump in the nation stadium. With skipped 2.05 meters, he set his season best from Götzis. It would have felt more about the 27-year-old. But Kaul wanted to save strength and stopped.
Neugebauer bit their teeth on the targeted 2.02 meters, but was also able to live with 1.99 meters. Good for the native of Stuttgart that High jump-ak-ak Skotheim did not go beyond 2.11 meters over 2.14 meters and Garland.
Out of the medal race, on the other hand, Simon Ehammer, who had ranked third after three disciplines. The Swiss made three failed attempts at 1.93 meters and was therefore unable to win points in this discipline.
Neugebauer lets the ball fly
Especially with 16.70 meters in the shot put (season best), Neugebauer had convinced in the morning. “Before the shot put I drank a coffee again and then the thing flew”said “Leo the German” in the Sportschau interview. “I’m super satisfied. It’s fun here.” Over 100 meters (10.80 seconds) and in the long jump (7.62 meters), he remained under his possibilities.
Kaul: “Everything could have been a little better”
Kaul drew a mixed conclusion after the first three disciplines. “It could have been a little better, but it wasn’t a big catastrophe”said the 2019 world champion. The 27-year-old delivered solid performance in the sprint (11.34 seconds), long jump (7.21 meters) and shot put (14.58 meters). In general, most meters in the early session struggled around 23 degrees in pleasant conditions.
Steinforth rises after three disciplines
Little went together at Till Steinforth – and then he got out after three disciplines. The 23-year-old had had to undergo a groin surgery about ten weeks ago and complained of pain.
“After consultation with the coaching team, the doctors and my family, I have to end the World Cup early heart. After the procedure on the bar, I really gave everything to get in the form of the World Cup in good time”said Steinforth. “It was better for me from day to day, I had less and less pain. In the competition I found that the pain is simply too great under maximum stress – and the risks to injure myself again.”
Now I keep my fingers crossed for Leo and Niklas. I wish the two of them the best of luck and success!
After 11.16 seconds over 100 meters, 7.07 meters in long jump and 13.73 meters in the shot put, Steinforth had ranked 22nd with 2367 points at the time of demolition.
Tokyo Olympic champion Warner not surprisingly not there
Damian Warner surprisingly did not start the competition on Saturday. According to the Canadian, the Canadian had to cancel the final training due to Achilles tendon problems. After an examination, no crack was found, but a World Cup participation was not possible for the 2021 Olympic champion due to the symptoms.
Paris Olympic champion Markus Rooth from Norway is also not included. World recordler Kevin Mayer (France) is also missing in Tokyo.