by Larry Eder
Ashton Eaton, Long Jump, WC 2009 Decathlon, Berlin, photo by PhotoRun.netEATON
ON WR PACE
TALLINN (EST, Feb 5): Ashton
Eaton is still on pace to break his own heptathlon world indoor record as he
totalled 3578 points after first day (6.66-777-14.45-201) of International
Combined Events Meeting in Estonia (EA Indoor Permit). Eaton in his first pro
competition is having 17 plus to his last year marks while scoring 6499 points
at NCAA Championships. After three events and two personal bests it could be
more (+109 after shot put) but he struggled a bit with his approach. He cleared
his opening bar of 1.98m on first attempt then the same on 2.01, but that was
all he managed for the day. He had approach problems at 2.04m and had 3 misses
with his 1st attempt being the closest. In the 60 m his great PB 6.66 was
also new stadium record and third fastest in the heptathlon ever. In long jump
after a foul on the first he took a safe jump on the 2nd attempt and was off
about 50 cm
behind the board, yet still jumped 7.77m, which is already 4cm further than he
jumped in his WR. On his last attempt he couldn’t find the board and ran
through. In shot put he Eaton fulfilled promises and for third time this winter
improved his overall PB to 14.54. Sunday starts with the hurdles which is the
event Eaton feels best about at the moment. He has run twice already this year
and both times were well in excess of his 7.77 that he ran in breaking the WR
so he looks to regain some of the ground he lost in the high jump with a solid
hurdle race. “Im absolutely not satisfied. I was 100 points ahead going into
the High Jump and now I’m just 17 points ahead of pace. I left a lot of points
out there in the Long Jump too. But I’m happy with the way I am running. I don’t
know what it is, the calves cramps. It happened in the blocks last week at
Millrose games and it happened again today in the 60m and then again in the
High Jump. I will be fine though. I just need to get some electrolytes in me
and get a massage and I will be fine for tomorrow. I am sure I still can do the
record. I have been running well in the hurdles, My pole vault was right where
it needed to be when I jumped two weeks ago, and I ran a good 800m as well
already so I know I am ready to run a good 1000m. So yes, I think I can do it
tomorrow,” said Eaton after first day. Estonian media are writing that the
bonus offered by the organizers is 10 000 Euro for breaking the record. Second
is best home Andres Raja with impressive 210 personal best in high jump and
total of 3444 (7.00-728-14.93-210). Third place for the all-time hero Roman
Sebrle who is giving a solid display of shape with 3402 (7.18-740-15.25-207).
He was best in shot put and cleared 207 in third.
(with help from Paul Doyle)
