The Swiss combined event athlete is enjoying an inspired few hours in Götzis with a huge long jump and the world’s best score on the first day of the decathlon.
Simon Ehammer is enjoying a dream year. In March, he won the world indoor heptathlon title with a world record 6,670. Now, on the first day of Goetz’s hypomeeting in Austria, he set a best of 8.51m (1.0) for the long jump in the decathlon and the biggest first-day score of 4762.
Furthermore, the 26-year-old’s long jump was a world leader and a Swiss record. Her other marks on Saturday (May 30) included 100m in 10.41, shot put 15.15m, high jump 2.03m and 400m in 47.33.
However, victory is far from guaranteed for Ehamer. Reigning world champion Leo Neugebauer is second on the night with 4,632 with a length of 7.97m, a throw of 16.71m and a jump of 2.06m.
Canada’s Damian Warner, an eight-time winner at Goetzis, also continues to fight in third place on 4,541.
READ MORE. Interview by Simon Ehamer
However, the day belonged to Ehammer as he beat Dan O’Brien’s 4747 from the 1991 US Championships as the best first day score in decathlon history.
In the competition, which is the strongest combined event to meet outside of the world championships, Britain’s Lewis Church sits in 22nd place after day one with 3,895 points.
In the heptathlon, Sophie Docter of the Netherlands was the overnight leader with 3969 after a day that included three PBs in the 100m hurdles of 13.27, the shot put of 14.70m and the 200m of 23.13.
Like Ehammer, he won the indoor world title earlier this year.
Only 12 points separate the next four women: Switzerland’s Annick Kelin (3859), USA’s Talia Brooks (3849), Germany’s Vanessa Grimm (3847) and Holland’s Emma Oosterwegel (3847).
Great Britain’s Jade O’Dowda is seventh with 3762 after 100m hurdles 13.25, high jump 1.80m, push 13.32 and 200m 24.34.
Britain’s Ellen Barber is 18th with 3,533.
