Germany's Norman Müller competes in the men's Decathlon 400m in the Berlin Olympic Stadium (© Getty Images)
Cuban Yunior Díaz capped a fine day one of Decathlon winning the fifth event, 400m in 46.15, the fastest time ever in a World championships Decathlon and a personal best snapping a huge 1.01 seconds off his earlier best 47.16 from earlier this season.
With this result scoring 1001 points Diaz is now in second place in the overall competition with 4512 points. Ukrainian Oleksiy Kasyanov continues in the lead having set a season’s best 47.85 in 400m and has 4555 points after day one.
American Trey Hardee had a tremendous first day ending with a season’s best 48.13 400m for a total of 4511 and third place only one point behind the Cuban. Hardee has a real shot at the gold during day two. Russian Aleksandr Pogorelov continues to fight for a medal, he ran 50.27 400m and has 4375 total points for fourth place. American Ashton Eaton is in fifth place with 4355 points (47.75 400m) and Yordani García of Cuba in sixth with 4348 points following a 48.34 personal best.
Czech Roman Sebrle looked tired in the 400m finishing with a disappointing 50.42 result and seventh place after five events having scored 4324 points. In eighth place is World leading Leonel Suárez of Cuba with 4320 points (48.00 400m) and on his way to top two in the competition having a very strong second day, especially the last two events.
Suárez is only five points off his 8654 World leading score while Trey Hardee has already scored 120 points more than in his 8516 points season’s best. German Pascal Behrenbruch, 11th after first day with 4247p, will be fighting for a medal during the second day. Behrenbruch is on his way towards a 8500p Decathlon and will be joined in the medal hunt by Pogorelov, Sebrle, García and Belarussian Krauchanka who has scored 4290 points for ninth place at the moment.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
