Jennifer Oeser in Ratingen (© Getty Images/Bongarts)
Ratingen, GermanyGermany’s new Decathlon youngster Michael Schrader and Jennifer Oeser are the overnight leaders after day one at the 12th Erdgas Meeting – IAAF World Combined Events Challenge.
The 20 year-old Schrader collected 4272 points in the first five events of the men’s Decathlon. Cuba’s Leonel Suarez, who produced the performance of the day by clearing 2.14m in the High Jump, is second with 4243. Germans Jacob Minah (4213), Arthur Abele, Norman Müller (both 4185) and André Niklaus (4163) take the next places and will be in the battle for Olympic qualification on Sunday together with Schrader. Meanwhile Pascal Behrenbruch gave up injured after four events.
In the Heptathlon Oeser leads after four events with 3771 points from her fellow Germans Sonja Kesselschläger (3744), Lilli Schwarzkopf (3706) and Julia Mächtig (3702). While Rebecca Wardell (New Zealand) is the best Non-German so far in fifth place with 3546 points Olympic qualification seems to be out of reach for Christine Schulz. After day one she is sixth with 3513. The top four Germans will be the ones for the three Beijing tickets. But because of her usual strong second day Schwarzkopf probably remains the favourite.
Schrader takes control after Long Jump - Decathlon
In ideal weather conditions Schrader took the overall lead in the Long Jump. He had started the day with a 10.76 in the 100 metres (+1.2 wind), which was the third fastest behind Nico Kühnert (Germany/10.71) and Jacob Minah (10.74). Schrader, who has a season’s and personal best of 8194 points, then produced the longest jump of the day with 7.74m at his last attempt. He then went on with two weaker results – Shot Put of 13.31m and 1.96m in the High Jump – but came back with a personal best in the 400m of 48.01.
Schrader might probably have a slightly weaker day two, but he is expected to be very much in contention for a German Olympic starting place. Especially if he improves to at least 8242 points, which is the German season’s best held by Pascal Behrenbruch. While it will get very tough for Jacob Minah to make the team because he usually is much weaker on day two André Niklaus and Arthur Abele are in promising positions regarding Beijing. Norman Müller could also still have a chance to qualify.
After an average start with 11.11 seconds for 100m, 7.45m in the Long Jump and 13.42m in the Shot Put Niklaus showed some superb high jumping. The Berliner, who had sensationally won the World Indoor Heptathlon title in 2006, cleared a personal best of 2.08m at his third attempt and then almost jumped 2.11m afterwards. That lifted him up from seventh to third place. The 400m is one of his weaker events. After a 49.58 he finally ended the day in sixth position.
“Mentally it is good for André to have done so well in the High Jump. This will give him further confidence for tomorrow,” said Niklaus’ coach Rainer Pottel. He added: “I am satisfied for now – he looks much better than in Götzis. But the real Decathlon only starts on day two.”
The men’s High Jump was the highlight of the day. It was Suarez, who surpassed Niklaus by jumping 2.14m. That was a meeting record for the Cuban, who then missed 2.17m three times. World record holder Roman Sebrle had been the number one high jumper of the Ratingen event before with his 2.10m from 2002. Leonel Suarez had been in ninth place after three events with 11.14, 7.23m and 13.78m. But his High Jump lifted him up into second spot.
“2.14 is much more than I had expected today,” said Suarez, who improved the Cuban record in Götzis recently to 8366 points. “I was thinking that I could jump something like 2.10m. It is difficult to tell, but if all goes well I might be able to further improve this national record tomorrow.” Suarez is already qualified for Beijing and hopes to achieve a top five finish at the Olympics.
Repeat performance one year later for Oeser - Heptathlon
Oeser had been in the lead after day one in Ratingen already last year. And her points total after four events today almost exactly matches the one from 2007: a year ago she had collected 3776 points before the second day, this time she has only five less.
“I am satisfied with my first day and I hope tomorrow I will be stronger than a year ago when I had a bad javelin throw,” said the 24 year-old, who had placed seventh at last year’s World Championships.
Oeser had a perfect start on Saturday with a personal best in the 100m hurdles, clocking 13.50 to knock 0.01 seconds from her previous best. Oeser then cleared 1.82m in the High Jump, achieved 14.00m in the Shot Put and finally clocked 24.60 for the 200m.
“I am content with my first day,” Oeser said. “Obviously the hurdles were my best result, while I should have jumped 1.85m in the High Jump.” Hampered by a muscle problem in her thigh she was not at her best in Götzis last month. “But since then I could train well. And I have no problem now.”
While Sonja Kesselschläger had a fine day and took second with 13.50 seconds, 1.85m (equalled her eight-year-old personal best), 13.77m and 25.14 seconds, Lilli Schwarzkopf is in third after 13.51, 1.82m, 13.89m, and 25.22. But she is well-known for a very strong second day. Last year she was trailing Oeser by 229 points in Ratingen and still snatched the win.
“Overall my day was good,” Schwarzkopf said. “And if I will have a normal second day then I should qualify for Beijing tomorrow.”
Fourth placed Julia Mächtig (14.10, 1.79m, 14.94m, 24.70) will also play a role regarding Olympic qualification.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
