Zhang
tops high jump, Eaton in charge of decathlon
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[August 28, 2015]
By Gene Cherry
BEIJING (Reuters) - Home favorite Guowei
Zhang sailed into the high jump final at the world athletics
championship on Friday with a confident clearance of 2.31 meters, while
American Ashton Eaton predictably took charge of the decathlon.
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Zhang, the world number two, cleared four jumps at the first attempt
and then the automatic qualifying height for Sunday's final to
finish joint-top with Canadian Derek Drouin on the seventh morning
of action in China.
The home crowd were already in a buoyant mood after Liu Hong won the
women's 20 kilometer walk to pick up China's first gold of the meet
before Zhang put in a confident display.
His efforts were matched by Drouin, the Olympic bronze medalist with
a personal best of 2.40m, the Canadian pleased to have had a quick
workout.
"Today my goal was to clear all heights with the first attempt, what
I managed, and saved energy for the final," he told reporters.
"I came to Beijing with the main goal -- a new PB (personal best). I
feel super fit and confident. If my new PB would not be enough for a
medal that would be devastating."
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Zhang and Drouin were joined in the final by defending champion
Bogdan Bondarenko from Ukraine, who also cleared the 2.31m height at
the first time of asking after needing two attempts at 2.29m.
Qatari world indoor champion Mutaz Essa Barshim also sailed through
at 2.31m, while Brandon Starc became the first Australian to qualify
for the final since 1997 after clearing the same height.
"Now I need some food and sleep. The track is a little fast, so I
had to do little adjustments," the tired Qatari said.
"The final in the evening will be even better because I will be able
to get more sleep before."
In the decathlon, Olympic champion and world record holder Eaton
quickly moved out in front after three events.
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The American, the defending world champion, was quickest in the
opening 100m with a time of 10.23 seconds and followed up with the
best mark in the long jump of 7.88m.
The 27-year-old then produced a throw of 14.52m in the shot put,
where Germany's Rico Freimuth finished top with an effort of 15.50m
to sit third overall on 2730 points. Eaton has 2830 points.
Canadian Damian Warner is second, some 82 points back of the heavy
favorite after a strong opening morning.
The bronze medalist two years ago was second overall in the sprint
and offered a personal best of 14.33m in the shot for a 2747 total.
American Trey Hardee, world champion in 2009 and 2011, was forced to
pull out of the shot, ending his championships. The 31-year-old
appeared hampered by injury when throwing.
(Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; Editing by John O'Brien)
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