Without a doubt, Tomas Dvorak still reigns supreme. After winning the Hypo-Meeting in G&ouml;tzis at the beginning of June, Dvorak today confirmed his dominion over the combined events by winning the 24th edition of Decastar, the fourth leg of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge. Dvorak may have suffered, but he gritted his teeth, for he is a great combatant. Erki Nool from Estonia, backed up by the colourful band of supporters who follow him to every competition, attempted to dethrone the king, using every ounce of power and guts at his disposal, but once again, by a fistful of points, he had to accede to Dvorak. And here, it is worth pointing out an exceptional coincidence with Decastar 1999. Just a year ago, Dvorak had taken first place ahead of Nool, with just 26 points separating the two (8690 and 8664). History repeated itself today with exceptional regularity: just 27 points separated Tomas and Erki. The two will meet again on the track in Sydney for another great challenge: the Olympic title and final victory in the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge. The third place on the podium in Talence went to Attila Zsivotzky, much to the joy of his father, that great hammer thrower from the Sixties. Fourth was the Czech Republic&rsquo;s Sebrle, and fifth the new Champion of France Laurent Hernu, who improved his personal best by 179 points from the previous 7999 and can now hope for a berth to Sydney. A final mention for Tunisia&rsquo;s Anis Riahi, who set a new National Record (previously 7506 set in 1997). From Wolverhampton to Talence, via Amsterdam (where her coach, Charles van Commenee, the manager of the Dutch combined events and throws squad lives): this was Denise Lewis&rsquo;s route back to her place among the great of the combined events. Notwithstanding some weakness on the second day (but also showing a clear improvement in the 800 metres), Lewis marked a full card: a new British record with 6831 points (previously 6736 she set in G&ouml;tzis in 1997), a new Commonwealth record too and the second best performance of the year, behind Eunice Barber&rsquo;s score of 6842; the 11th performance all-time and a new meeting record for Talence(bettering the 6803 set by the American heptathlete Frederick way back in 1984). The British athlete&rsquo;s result re-opens the contest with Eunice Barber and we can expect to see in Sydney a repeat of the duel which so enlivened two days of last year&rsquo;s IAAF World Championships in the Estadio della Cartuja in Seville. Behind Lewis that true Stakhanov of the combined events, Poland&rsquo;s Ursula Wlodarczyck, with 6351 points took the lead in the previsional classification of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge. Third place went to Nathalie Teppe, thanks to her superior performance in the javelin, giving her the title of French Champion and securing her a berth to Sydney in the process. Ottavio Castellini for IAAF Results Men 1. Tomas Dvorak (CZE) pt. 8733 10.75/-1.2 - 7.58/2.0 - 16.14 - 1.95 - 48.07/13.93/0.8 - 49.22 - 4.90 - 69.37 - 4:30.83 2. Erki Nool (EST) pt. 8706 10.69/-1.2 - 7.81/1.2 - 14.20 - 1.95 - 46.95/ 14.43/0.8 - 41.84 - 5.50 - 68.89 - 4:30.40 3. Attila Zsivotzky (HUN) pt. 8293 11.00/2.1 - 7.06/3.0 - 14.69 - 2.16 - 48.68/ 15.23/0.8 - 46.75 - 4.60 - 65.26 - 4:25.81 4. Roman Sebrle (CZE) pt. 8228 10.96/-1.2 - 7.33/0.0 - 14.76 - 2.07 - 48.78/ 14.23/0.8 - 46.37 - 4.40 - 62.71 - 4:36.87 5. Laurent Hernu (FRA) pt.8178 11.15/2.1 - 7.26/-0.4 - 14.12 - 2.10 - 49.98/ 14.25/0.0 - 44.81 - 5.10 - 56.16 - 4:36.68 6. Lionel Marceny (FRA) pt. 7836 10.82/2.1 - 7.74/1.8 - 12.32 - 1.92 - 49.46/ 14.32/0.8 - 38.36 - 5.00 - 47.92 - 4:35.27 Women&rsquo;s Results 1. Denis Lewis (GBR) pt. 6831 13.13/1.0 - 1.84 - 15.07 - 24.01/3.6/ 6.69/-0.4 - 49.42 - 2:12.20 2. Ursula Wlodarczyck (POL) pt.6351 13.50/1.0 - 1.81 - 15.48 - 24.08/3.6/6.02/1.6 - 42.76 - 2:16.74 3. Nathalie Teppe (FRA) pt. 6214 13.72/0.6 - 1.78 - 13.85 - 26.05/1.3/ 6.06/0.0 - 52.85 - 2:15.70 4. Marie Collonville (FRA) pt. 6119 13.52/0.6 - 1.78 - 12.03 - 24.90/3.6/596/1.1 - 47.00 - 2:13.03 5. Muriel Crozet (FRA) pt. 6021 13.60/1.0 - 1.81 - 13.27 - 25.21/1.3/6.02/0.6 - 41.77 - 2:19.93 6. Maralize Visser-Fouche (RSA) pt. 5852 13.67/1.0 - 1.78 - 13.51 - 23.35/3.6/ 5.63/-0.8 - 37.70 - 2:28.86

Meeting in Götzis at the beginning of June, Dvorak today confirmed his dominion over the combined events by winning the 24th edition of Decastar, the fourth leg of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge.

Dvorak reigns supreme

When the world's best all-round athletes gather in a packed stadium to take part in the last event of the season, final stage of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge, one can be assured of fireworks. When six of the seven 1999 best performers in the heptathlon are encouraged by the unique atmosphere created in the D&eacute;castar Meeting in Talence, one can only expect world class performances. Tomas Dvorak produced an impressive running for the first of the five events remaining in the decathlon on the second day, the 110m hurdles, to confirm his lead in the men&rsquo;s standings this morning. With a time of 13.95 run into a head wind blowing at 0.4 m/s he collected 981 points to increase his lead by 80 points ahead of runner up Erki Nool who clocked 14.58 (901 points) in his heat. France&rsquo;s Laurent Hernu equalled his personal best of 14.31 remaining some 50 points ahead of his overall personal best. Russia&rsquo;s Lev Lobodin who was fourth after day one, did not finish the 110m hurdles but went on to continue the decathlon with 46.57m in the discus throw. A contest which was favourable to many athletes, including Tomas Dvorak and Erki Nool. Nool produced an incredible series improving his personal best (43.20m) at each of his three attempts respectively: 43.22m, 43.97m and 44.47m. The Estonian collected another 756 points but could not close the gap with World Champion Tomas Dvorak who also bettered his personal best in the event by almost two metres to 50.17m. After seven events, the decathlon was still led by Dvorak (6387 points), only 104 points below his world record mark of 8994 points and still in contention to break Dan O&rsquo;Brien&rsquo;s meeting record of 8891 points, which not so long ago was still a world record mark. Estonia&rsquo;s Erki Nool was second with 6073 points followed by Czech Roman Sebrle (5984), with France&rsquo;s Sebastien Levicq (5710) and Laurent Hernu (5675) close behind. Levicq, who finished a disappointing fourth place in Seville, still had a chance of finishing in one of the top three positions of the final IAAF World Combined Events Challenge behind untouchable Dvorak, should he score 8200 points or more. The always spectacular pole vault contest provided some suspense with American Dan Steele clearing the 4.20m entrance height on his third attempt, and Sweden&rsquo;s Henrik Dagard experienced some difficulty at 4.50m which he also passed on his third try. Eventually both Steele and Dagard equalled their personal bests of 4.50m and 5.00m respectively. World Champion Tomas Dvorak also had a difficult pole vault contest in which he couldn&rsquo;t do better than 4.40m. Despite injuring his ankle at his first failed attempt at 4.80m in the pole vault &ndash; his best event &ndash; S&eacute;bastien Levicq received treatment and went on to clear 5.00m. While some athletes, including Tomas Dvorak, had already started the javelin throw, Erki Nool was the only one left to attempt 5.30 which he cleared easily. Almost simultaneously Nool cleared 5.40m while Tomas Dvorak threw an impressive 70.55m with his first attempt. Nool then went on to clear 5.50m and scored 1067 points to take the lead from World Champion Dvorak by 22 points after eight events. However, it didn&rsquo;t take long to Dvorak to set things back the way he wanted them to be for Nool threw a poor 68.84m in the javelin. After nine events, Dvorak was in the lead with 8016 points with Erki Nool just 4 points behind, a situation which had the public on tenterhooks before the start of the tenth and last event, the 1500m. Meanwhile Levicq produced a poor 61.43m in the javelin. Diminished by his injury, he decided not to participate in the 1500m. He nevertheless obtained enough points with nine events to finish 6th in the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge. In a sensational last event Nool was followed stride for stride by World Champion Tomas Dvorak, who produced a fatal acceleration to which Nool could not respond, with 200m to go. The race was won by France&rsquo;s Gaetan Blouin with a time of 4:31.37. Dvorak eventually put an end to a sensational season, which saw him breaking the World Record and winning his fourth decathlon of the season. Undefeated this year Dvorak scored a tremendous 8690 &ndash; fourth world best performance of the year and his worst result of the year! He defeated Erki Nool by less than 30 points. With 8664 points Nool was only eight points from his personal best. A fabulous conclusion to the 1999 edition of the D&eacute;castar Meeting with Roman Sebrle, third today with 8231 points moving up to second position in the World Combined Events Challenge. Chris Huffins who did not compete in the D&eacute;castar this year, but who was present as coach to compatriot Dan Steele finishes third in the World Combined Events Challenge. The women&rsquo;s heptathlon started this morning with some disapointing news for the large home crowd. France&rsquo;s Marie Collonville who suffered from an ankle injury in the high jump yesterday decided to withdraw from the competition, despite warming up to compete. The USA's Sheila Burrell, who failed three attempts in the high jump yesterday, was another one to withdraw before the long jump started this morning. The long jump contest did provoke any important changes in the women&rsquo;s standings. Barber, whose personal best of 7.01m in the discipline is also a national record, leapt 6.76m to obtain another 1092 points and regain the lead while Wlodarczyk&rsquo;s poor performance of 5.98m (843) took her down from first to fifth position. Sabine Braun (6.41m), Dedee Nathan (6.42) and Irina Belova (6.47) improved respectively to second, third and fourth position in the current standings. After five events in the heptathlon, Eunice Barber, Sabine Braun and Irina Belova, who had all competed in only two heptathlons so far this year seemed likely to take the lead of the final IAAF World Combined Events Challenge, their average scores well above the other contestants. 1991 and 1997 World Champion Sabine Braun kept on closing the gap on Eunice Barber throwing a personal best in the heptathlon javelin with 51.71m on her first attempt. World Champion Barber threw 41.14m with her second throw, before improving her result to 45.87m, ensuring a leading position before the last event of the day with a 30 point margin on Germany&rsquo;s Sabine Braun, 5642 against 5612 points. With just the 800m to go, American Dedee Nathan was third with 5494 points while Russia&rsquo;s Irina Belova (5347) and Irina Vostrikova (5345) were fighting for fourth place. 800m specialist, Irina Belova led the race from start to finish clocking 2:06.92 with Italy&rsquo;s Gertrud Bacher close behind in 2:08.57 to take third place in the final heptathlon standings. Eventually, World Champion Eunice Barber who had been tempted not to complete the heptathlon today, dominated both the D&eacute;castar and the 1999 Combined Events Challenge ensuring herself of the 30,000$ prize money awarded to the winner. The podium of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge this year is that of the D&eacute;castar Meeting with Germany's Sabine Braun taking second place with 6422 points and Russia&rsquo;s Irina Belova finishing with 6357 points. With 6228 points Poland&rsquo;s Ursula Wlodarczyk completed her 86th heptathlon and scored 6000 points or more for a record of 50 times. Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF Final Results Decathlon <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="661"><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Tomas Dvorak </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(CZE)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">8690 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">10.75, 7.76, 16.63, 2.07, 49.10, 13.95, 50.17, 70.55, 4:40.97</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Erki Nool </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(EST)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">8664 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">10.79, 7.93, 14.18, 1.98, 47.35, 14.58, 44.47, 68.84, 4:44.51</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Roman Sebrle </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(CZE)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">8231 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">10.93, 7.66, 14.56, 2.07, 48.78, 14.75, 44.17, 64.74, 4:45.17</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Indrek Kaseorg</td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(EST)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">8059 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.45, 7.20, 14.24, 1.98, 49.37, 14.56, 43.26, 66.58, 4:35.10</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Henrik Dagard </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(SWE)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7994 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">10.92, 7.02, 14.02, 1.89, 48.21, 14.35, 42.44, 64.82, 4:53.29</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Laurent Hernu </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7937 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.38, 7.26, 13.71, 2.04, 50.06, 14.31, 42.88, 56.07, 4:36.48</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Wilfrid Boulineau </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7864 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.20, 7.34, 13.42, 1.92, 50.09, 14.75, 40.94, 62.13, 4:41.10</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Zsolt Kurtosi </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(HUN)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7815 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.38, 7.05, 15.12, 1.95, 49.59, 14.64, 45.08, 58.40, 4:48.69</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Jorg Goedicke </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(EST)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7787 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.20, 6.98, 14.24, 2.04, 50.81, 14.66, 42.08, 54.91, 4:48.07</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Dan Steele </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(USA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7757 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.03, 6.66, 13.57, 1.89, 48.16, 14.77, 48.36, 63.24, 4:53.14</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Gaetan Blouin </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7667 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.23, 6.89, 12.11, 2.04, 50.10, 14.81, 38.95, 58.09, 4:31.97</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Brian Brophy </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(USA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7538 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.52, 7.08, 16.03, 1.92, 52.56, 15.30, 51.58, 52.30, 5:13.56</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">S&eacute;bastien Levicq</td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">7379 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.21, 7.34, 14.62, 1.98, 50.54, 14.50, 44.09, 61.43, dnf</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Lev Lobodin </td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(RUS)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">Dnf</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.03, 7.36, 16.07, 1.98, 50.02, 0, 46.57, dns</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="22%">Jon Arnar Magnusson</td><td valign="TOP" width="8%">(ISL)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">Dnf</td><td valign="TOP" width="56%">11.20, 7.37, 15.66, dns</td></tr></tbody></table>Heptathlon <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="613"><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Eunice Barber</td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6514 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.12, 1.87, 11.40, 24.05, 6.76, 45.87, 2:16.45</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Sabine Braun </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(GER)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6422 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.63, 1.78, 14.44, 24.49, 6.41, 51.71, 2:20.98</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Irina Belova</td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(RUS)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6357 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.64, 1.75, 12.82, 25.15, 6.47, 42.92, 2:06.92</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Dedee Nathan </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(USA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6317 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.53, 1.72, 14.81, 24.44, 6.42, 51.71, 2:20.03</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Ursula Wlodarczyk</td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(POL)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6228 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.72, 1.81, 15.04, 24.82, 5.98, 42.17, 2:14.46</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Irina Vostrikova </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(RUS)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6173 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.99, 1.81, 15.28, 25.64, 6.08, 46.45, 2:19.68</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Natalya Roshchupina </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(RUS)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6097 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.89, 1.81, 11.65, 23.71, 6.04, 42.38, 2:15.19</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Tiia Hautala</td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(FIN)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6025 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.88, 1.81, 13.34, 25.02, 6.02, 39.70, 2:15.45</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Gertrud Bacher</td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(ITA) </td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">6020 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">14.38, 1.75, 13.07, 24.43, 6.01, 40.06, 2:08.57</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Muriel Crozet </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">5627 points</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">14.02, 1.75, 12.20, 25.44, 5.77, 38.24, 2:21.77</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Marie Collonville </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">Dnf</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">14.09, 1.84, 11.53, 24.34, dns</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="24%">Sheila Burrell </td><td valign="TOP" width="9%">(USA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="14%">Dnf</td><td valign="TOP" width="54%">13.39, 0, 12.16, 23.84, dns</td></tr></tbody></table>IAAF Combined Events Challenge Final Standings Men <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="343"><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="49%">Tomas Dvorak </td><td valign="TOP" width="23%">(CZE)</td><td valign="TOP" width="28%">8690 points</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="49%">Erki Nool</td><td valign="TOP" width="23%">(EST) </td><td valign="TOP" width="28%">9664 points</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="49%">Roman Sebrle</td><td valign="TOP" width="23%">(CZE)</td><td valign="TOP" width="28%">8231 points</td></tr></tbody></table>Women <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="343"><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="49%">Eunice Barber</td><td valign="TOP" width="23%">(FRA)</td><td valign="TOP" width="28%">6514 points</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="49%">Sabine Braun</td><td valign="TOP" width="23%">(GER)</td><td valign="TOP" width="28%">6422 points</td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="49%">Irina Belova</td><td valign="TOP" width="23%">(RUS)</td><td valign="TOP" width="28%">6357 points</td></tr></tbody></table>See the complete IAAF World Combined Events Challenge

Report after day two of the Décastar Meeting in Talence (FRA) final stage of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge

World Champions Dvorak and Barber win the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge

World Champions Dvorak and Barber seek victory in the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge The 1999 IAAF World Combined Events Challenge moves to Talence (FRA) this weekend for the final stage of a circuit that has witnessed great performances throughout the year, including earlier this year a new decathlon world record. Having completed three decathlons with a total score of more than 8700 points and an average incredible 8825,3 points, double World Champion and world record holder Tomas Dvorak is the uncontested leader of the 1999 IAAF Combined Events Challenge. The Czech is now aiming to win the traditional Décastar event in Talence (18-19 September) for the first time and better the meeting record currently held by the USA’s Dan O'Brien. Although Dvorak has taken part in the Décastar event four times, he has yet to win this particular competition. He finished second in 1996 and 1997, ninth in 1995 and thirteenth in 1994. Despite winning the World Championships, Dvorak declared he was not fully satisfied with his performance in Seville. "I would like to finish the season by keeping up my undefeated record and by scoring at least 100 more points than in Seville. I feel really good and moreover I will not be under any pressure." At the IAAF World Championship Dvorak obtained 8744 points, second best performance in the world this year. Dvorak now hopes to better O'Brien's seven-year-old record for the Décastar meet of 8891 points. "If I could improve on his performance by at least one point, it would be a great finish to the season." In the women’s heptathlon, Germany’s Karin Ertl currently leads the Challenge with 18815 points, ahead of American Sheila Burrell (18667) and 1998 winner Urzula Wlodarczyk (18532). The Challenge is decided on the basis of the total of the best three scores achieved by the contenders. The favourite for the Overall Challenge title is however another athlete. 1999 World Champion, France’s Eunice Barber seems a likely candidate to take the lead in the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge after this weekend. Barber, who will be competing in front of her home crowd, is currently 9th in the standings but she has only taken part in two heptathlons so far this year. She won the European Cup in Prague with 6505 points and the World Championships in Seville with a personal and world best of 6861 points. Barber’s average of 6683 points is well above Sabine Braun’s 6424.5. The German has also only taken part in two heptathlons this year, but will still be another candidate for the Challenge podium should she achieve more than 6000 points in Talence. Barber who said she was delighted to end her superb season in front of her home crowd, would need a score of at least 6200 points to ensure herself victory in the Challenge and the $30,000 prize money awarded to winners. With the greatest all-round athletes present in Talence, the Décastar should be a fabulous and exciting conclusion to this year’s IAAF World Combined Events Challenge.

Preview of IAAF World Combined Events Challenge Final Stage in talence (18-19 September)

World Champions Dvorak and Barber seek victory in the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge

Tomas Dvorak of the Czech Republic broke American Dan O'Brien's world decathlon record Sunday, scoring 8,994 points in a European Cup event. O'Brien set the previous mark of 8,891 in 1992 in Talence, France, after failing to qualify for the U.S. team for the Barcelona Olympics. Dvorak, 27 had a previous best of 8,837 points in his 1997 World Championship victory in Athens, Greece. He was the bronze medallist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Dvorak, competing in 32-degree Celsius conditions at Strahov stadium, ran the final 1500-metre event in 4:37.20 to break the record. "Only a couple of points and I would have had 9,000, but at least I'll have some motivation for next time," Dvorak said. Dvorak was 75 points behind O'Brien's record pace after the first five events Saturday. The Czech star set three personal bests Saturday, with a time of 10.54 seconds in the 100 metres and marks of 7.90 metres in the long jump and 16.76 metres in the shot put. He also cleared 2.04 metres in the high jump, and ran the 400 in 48.08 seconds. On Sunday, Dvorak won the 110 hurdles in 13.73 seconds and had personal bests of 48.33 metres in the discus and 72.32 metres in the javelin. After clearing 4.90 metres in the pole vault, Dvorak was still 76 points behind O'Brien's pace. The Czech star passed up three attempts at 5 metres. "I saved my energy for the javelin," said Dvorak, who earned 925 points for the strong javelin effort to move 72 points ahead of O'Brien's record pace. To tie O'Brien's record, Dvorak needed to run the 1500 in 4:53.87, well off his personal best of 4:29.69. He needed to run 4:36.34 to break the 9,000 barrier. "The conditions were exceptionally good," Dvorak said. He said he had a reasonable chance to clear the 9,000-point barrier, but made a mistake in the second lap of the 1500. "We slowed down a bit and we got punished," Dvorak said. "I had enough power in the last lap, but it was too late. "If I had performed beyond 9,000 points, I would have had a message for O'Brien, but now it's better to shut up. "I will take a week off now and then prepare for the World Championships in Spain." The record performance makes Dvorak the favourite for the World Championships in Seville in August. O'Brien was injured for the U.S. Championships, and did not qualify for the team. Dvorak set four personal bests en route to the Olympic bronze and six bests when he won the world title. He also won the 1995 European Cup and the Czech 110 hurdles titles in 1994-96 and 1998.Ondrej Hejma (AP) for the IAAF

Tomas Dvorak of Czech Republic breaks Dan O'Brien's decathlon world record by over 100 points

Tomas Dvorak breaks O'Brien's Decathlon record

He celebrated his 27th birthday just a few days ago (on 11 May) and said to himself: "I want to give myself a present: a win in G&ouml;tzis to show everyone that I am still number one in this World Championship year."Thomas Dvorak, a metre ninety and 86kg, wanted to get his revenge after a year &ndash; 1998 &ndash; which had been anything but perfect. He had suffered some minor injury problems and had to concede defeat to Estonia&rsquo;s Erki Nool. In G&ouml;tzis itself, just twelve months ago, Dvorak had to settle for second place behind the agile Estonian. He then went on to take a modest fifth place in the European championships in Budapest. In 1999, he didn&rsquo;t get off on the soundest of footings, missing the medal table by a mere 10 points in Maebashi. A poor showing for someone who had become world champion in Athens in 1997, missing the world record by a handful of points. Now was the time for revenge. For the first time he added his name to the list of winners of the illustrious Austrian meeting and by three points bettered the record for the meeting created by Ing. Konrad Lerch. He scored a total of 8738 points against the previous record of 8735 set in 1994 by the then Bielorussian (now Finnish) Eduard H&auml;m&auml;l&auml;inen. A points score well out of reach for an Erki Nool not on his best form, who took second place nearly 300 points behind the powerhouse of Prague. The tenacious Russian of Ukrainian origin, Lev Lobodin, took third place. We mentioned the World Indoor Championships in Maebashi earlier and will mention them again now to praise the gold medallist in Japan, America&rsquo;s LeShundra Nathan, better known by her nickname DeDee. The 31 year-old seems to have been spurred on by her victory in Japan, scoring 6577 in G&ouml;tzis, 98 better than her previous best, which she set last year when she came second behind the great Jackie Joyner Kersee in the Goodwill Games. She put up a 110 point barrier between herself and second-placed Russian Irina Belova, who won last year&rsquo;s edition of the Hypomeeting here in G&ouml;tzis. No great showing among the others, from Poland&rsquo;s Wlodarczyk to Germany&rsquo;s Sabine Braun, who withdrew. Ottavio Castellini for IAAFDecathlon 1. Tomas Dvorak (CZE) p.8738 (10.71 &ndash; 7.77 &ndash; 16.43 &ndash; 2.00 &ndash; 48.21 / 13.85 &ndash; 46.54 &ndash; 4.80 &ndash; 68.66 &ndash; 4:33.99) 2. Erki Nool (EST) p.8460 (10.86 &ndash; 7.79 &ndash; 14.23 &ndash; 2.00 &ndash; 47.30 / 14.66 &ndash; 39.67 &ndash; 5.40 &ndash; 64.23 &ndash; 4:39.00) 3. Lev Lobodin (RUS) p.8427 (10.75 &ndash; 7.56 &ndash; 15.72 &ndash; 2.06 &ndash; 48.87 / 13.94 &ndash; 45.05 &ndash; 5.10 &ndash; 52.14 &ndash; 4:38.63) 4. Roman Sebrle (CZE) p.8426 5. Chiel Warners (NED) p.8363 6. Klaus Isenkenmeier (GER) p.8274 7. Thomas Tebbich (AUT) p.8039 8. David Mewes (GER) p.8018 Heptathlon 1. LeShundra Nathan (USA) p.6577 (13.28 &ndash; 1.76 &ndash; 14.74 &ndash; 24.23 / 6.59 &ndash; 50.08 &ndash; 2:16.92) 2. Irina Belova (RUS) p.6467 (13.57 &ndash; 1.76 &ndash; 13.27 &ndash; 23.81 / 6.47 &ndash; 44.64 &ndash; 2:07.52) 3. Karin Ertl (GER) p.6332 (13.62 &ndash; 1.82 &ndash; 13.90 &ndash; 24.02 / 6.27 &ndash; 44.44 &ndash; 2:18.57) 4. Sheila Burrell (USA) p.6261 5. Natalya Roshchupkina (RUS) p.6219 6. Mona Steigauf (GER) p.6146 7. Urszula Wlodarczyk (POL) p.6096 8. Gertrud Bacher (ITA) p.6093

Dvorak sets meeting best to win in Götzis, Nathan wins heptathlon

Birthday gift for Dvorak in Götzis

A new IAAF initiative for combined events athletes - The World Combined Events Challenge - reaches one of its peaks this weekend at the Hypo-Meeting in G&ouml;tzis. This prestigious meeting - whose great traditions make it the most important invitation meeting for multi-eventers - is part of the new circuit which allows these special athletes to earn points and eventually win prize money ranging from $30,000 (first place) to $5,000 (eighth place). As well as G&ouml;tzis, the Challenge includes the Decastar in Talence (France) on September 12/13, and other selected international and national competitions. The final ranking will be based on the addition of the best totals achieved by athletes in any three designated competitions. As usual, the entry list for G&ouml;tzis, reads like a Who&rsquo;s Who of the combined events. The biggest star among the 24 decathletes is 1997 World Champion Tomas Dvorak, who set personal bests in 6 events to win his title in Athens with 8837 points (the fourth best ever). His strongest opposition is likely to come from two Americans Chris Huffins and Steve Fritz. Huffins, a powerful sprinter who ran the fastest 100m ever recorded in a decathlon - 10.22 - in 1996, was leading the decathlon in Athens after seven events but lost ground before fouling out in the javelin and retiring from the competition. Huffins will be eager to erase that memory. Fritz, a lanky former basketball star and now a throws coach at Kansas State University, was the US national champion in 1997 and recovered from an appalling first day in Athens (he was thirteen) to finish fourth after 10 events. Also challenging for honours will be the sixth place finisher in Athens, Erki Nool of Estonia. He set his current best of 8575 (including a long jump of 8.10) when winning at G&ouml;tzis in 1995. Reigning Commonwealth champion Michael Smith (Canada), who won this competition in 1991 and 1996, is also among the entries. Unfortunately, in the heptathlon, Denise Lewis of Great Britain, who set a commonwealth record of 6736 when winning last year, has been forced to pull out due to an injured ankle. Her duel with&nbsp; the redoubtable German Sabine Braun, who took gold in Athens last year (her fiftieth heptathlon!) had been keenly awaited. Other top performers include Russia&rsquo;s Irina Belova (6845), Lithuania&rsquo;s Remigia Nazaroviene (6604) and Natalya Sazanovich (6563). One of the beauties of combined events competitions is that the form book often counts for nothing - with so many events to complete, nothing is certain. Many times an early leader has collapsed in the latter stages as fatigue and pressure begin to take their toll. G&ouml;tzis will certainly provide top-notch action and, perhaps, the ghost of Daley Thompson who broke the world record here in 1980 and 1982, will inspire those who have followed in his footsteps.

Presentation of Gotzis and World Combined Events Challenge

Gotzis welcomes World Combined Events Challenge

A new IAAF initiative for combined events athletes - The World Combined Events Challenge - reaches one of its peaks this weekend at the Hypo-Meeting in Götzis. 

Tomas Dvorak of the Czech Republic captured the gold medal, becoming the third-best performer of all time after Dan O'Brien and Daley Thompson.Dvorak missed the world record by just 54 points. He led for most of the 1500m, but was passed by USA's Steve Fritz and Germany's Frank Busemann just before the last lap, finishing third in 4:35.40.The Czech recorded six personal bests during the competition.Busemann won the 1500m with a time of 4:29.27, capturing the overall bronze medal with 8652.Finland's Eduard Hamalainen missed his personal best by only five points, but he broke the national record for his new country with 8730, finishing the 1500m in 4:37.10.Fifth place in the competition was taken by Uzbekistan's Ramil Ganiyev with 8445, a national record. Ganiyev bettered his previous personal best by 127 points. Estonia's Erki Nool was sixth, scoring 8413.