BOOKMARK THIS ONE – Canada went 1–2 for the first time in any event since the ’95 men’s 100.
Tokyo gold medalist Damian Warner entered as a slight favorite over French WR holder Kevin Mayer, but Götzis winner Pierce LePage was the headliner, PRing by more than 200 points to climb to No. 6 all-time at 8909.
A record 5 entered with PRs over 8700, and that club gained another member with Lindon Victor’s surprising bronze (8754 behind Warner’s 8804) — giving the meet its first-ever trio of medalists over that total.
While the contest took its toll on several big names — 8 DNFs — 6 finished with PRs, including 4 of the top 6.
100 Meters: Warner – the deca recordholder in this event at 10.12 — was tops at 10.32, with Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme next at 10.43. LePage ran a solid 10.45. American Kyle Garland was near his PR at 10.59, as was NCAA champ Leo Neugebauer at 10.69.
Long Jump: Neugebauer uncorked a final-round PR 26-3 (8.00), and the world leader now projected to 8899. LePage was solid at 24-11 (7.59), but the event encountered its first casualty: Mayer after a 23-9½ (7.25). “I’ve been nursing a little injury on my Achilles most of the season,” said the 31-year-old 2-time champ.
Shot: Neugebauer was too hot to touch, PRing at 55-11 (17.04) to become the first decathlete known to surpass 8m in the LJ and 17m in the shot; he now projected to 8947. Estonia’s Johannes Erm, the ’19 NCAA champ for Georgia, joined him with a second PR (50-5½/15.38 after a 10.69 in the 100). Without fanfare, LePage was near PR territory at 51-10½ (15.81).
High Jump: American Zach Ziemek, the bronze medalist last year, was a casualty; he cleared 6-6¼ (1.99) but his final miss at 6-8¾ (2.05) had him holding his left leg and forced to join Mayer on the sidelines. It was also the last event for four others, including ’19 champ Niklas Kaul of Germany.
LePage cleared 6-9¾ (2.08), just off his best 6-10¼ (2.09) from 2017. He projected to a PR 8844, but still trailed projected totals by Neugebauer (8929) and Warner (8892).
400 Meters: The big 3 looked like Neugebauer, Warner and LePage, all projecting over 8800 with no one else over 8600. All ran good times – LePage 47.21, Warner 47.86, Neugebauer 47.99.
110H: Warner led the way at…
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