Nafissatou Thiam claimed her second title in the heptathlon and Damian Warner his fourth in the decathlon at the Hypo Meeting IAAF Combined Events Challenge fixture in Gotzis, Austria, on Sunday (27).

Thiam tallied a world-leading 6806 to successfully defend her title at Moesle Stadium while Warner collected 8795, also a world-leading performance, to break his own Canadian national record.

Thiam began strong on day two with a 6.62m leap in the long jump, improving her personal best by six centimetres and missing the Belgian record by a scant one centimetre. That upped her total to 5158 for a 126-point lead over Erica Bougard of the US, who also improved her personal best to 6.62m to remain in second with 5032 ahead of Cuba’s Yorgelis Rodriguez, who reached 6.56m for 4983. The 2017 world bronze medallist, Anouk Vetter, leaped 6.25m to up her score to 4763.

That put Thiam’s tally 75 points ahead of last year’s, well on course to challenge Carolina Kluft’s European record. But those ambitions were halted in the javelin where, hampered by the winds, she could only manage a best of 47.20m, more than 12 metres short of her 59.32m effort in 2017. That put her at 5964 points and effectively out of the record chase.

Rodriguez threw a season’s best with 48.65m to overtake Bougard for second with 5817 to the American’s 5737. Alina Shukh, last year’s European U20 champion, won the event with 52.46m ahead of Vetter’s 51.27m.

Thiam concluded a successful weekend with a 2:18.62 run in the 800m for a 6806 performance, the third best of her career. Her two days in Gotzis was highlighted by a heptathlon all-time best of 2.01m.

Rodriguez ran 2:12.73 to take the runner-up spot with 6742, a Cuban national record. Bougard won the two-lap event in 2:08.42 to smash her heptathlon career best with 6725. Dutchwoman Vetter was fourth with 6428 ahead of Austria’s Verena Preiner (6308 PB) and another Belgian, Hanne Maudens who scored 6252.

“It was a great weekend. I set a lot of PBs and I did not expect to score many of them,” Thiam said.

“In the javelin there was a lot of wind and I changed my run-up, but I am not sad at all about missing the chance to break the European record. This competition was a step on the way towards the European Championships. I am looking forward to Berlin. This weekend I wanted to assess where I am at this point of the season.”

Warner, the overnight leader, picked up where he left off by winning the 110m hurdles in 13.56, a season’s best, to increase his lead to 329 points over German Kai Kazmirek, whose 14.42 was also a season’s best. After six events the Canadian scored 5597 to Kazmirek’s 5268. German Rico Freimuth clocked a quick 13.96 to move up from 11th to sixth with 5164. His compatriot Matthias Brugger improved his ranking from fifth to third with a total score of 5207 after clocking 14.24.

Warner produced another season’s best with 47.32m in the discus throw to increase his lead to 402 points. Kazmirek, last year’s world bronze medallist, threw 43.76m to remain in second, just four points over Freimuth who finished second in this event with 48.58m over Grenada’s Lindon Victor who threw 48.82m. Sadly Freimuth pulled out of the competition before the start of the pole vault.

That event was led by Maicel Uibo of Estonia and Zachery Ziemek of the US, who both topped 5.30m. That moved Uibo from fifth into second with 6889. Warner meanwhile topped 4.80m for a 7261 total after eight events. Brugger moved up to third with 6905 thanks to a 5.20m clearance. Ziemek followed in fourth place with 6893.

Warner improved his total to 8028 after the penultimate event, reaching 61.94m in the javelin, 275 points up on Uibo who threw 61.75m. Last year’s European U20 champion Nicklas Kaul was the best of the day, reaching 68.78 to climb into eighth place overall with 7470.

Warner crowned his successful weekend with a 4:26.59 run in the 1500m, finishing behind Brugger (4:23:93) and Dutchman Pieter Braun (4:24.29), to become the fourth four-time Gotzis winner after Carolina Kluft, Roman Sebrle and Sabine Braun.

“It means a lot to win this meeting for the fourth time,” said a delighted Warner. “I was solid across the board, especially in the long jump, the discus and in the hurdles. We were very lucky with the weather. I will now come back home to assess the rest of the season.”

The Canadian star beat Uibo, who set a career best with 8514, and Braun, who improved his personal best to 8343. Uibo received strong support from a big group of Estonian fans who made the long journey to Austria.

“I did not make any particular highlights, but the key was to be consistent across all events,” Uibo said. </s> World and Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam from Belgium and Canada’s Damian Warner are the overnight leaders after the first day of the 44th edition of the Hypo Meeting in Gotzis, the second leg of the 2018 IAAF Combined Events Challenge.

Thiam tallied 4112 points, propelled by a 2.01m clearance in the high jump, the highest ever in heptathlon competition and an outright world lead. Warner, who is aiming to become the meeting’s fourth four-time winner, scored 4565 after winning the 100m in 10.31, the long jump with 7.81m and finishing second in the 400m in 47.72.

Thiam on fire

Erica Bougard from the US, this year’s Multistars winner and current world leader, won the 100m hurdles with a 12.80 PB in the fifth heat ahead of her compatriot Alex Gouchenour (13.23) and world silver medallist Carolin Schaefer (13.25). Running in the fourth heat, Thiam was edged by Allison Reaser, but both were credited with 13.45. For Thiam, it was the second-fastest performance of her career.

In the high jump, her favourite event, the 2017 World Athlete of the Year was on fire, topping 1.83m, 1.86m, 1.89m, 1.92m and 1.95m on her first attempt before clearing 2.01m on her second to improve the previous heptathlon best of 1.98m she held jointly with Katharina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain. Points-wise, the clearance, good for 1251, is the second best result ever achieved in a heptathlon competition behind Jackie Joyner Kersee’s 7.27m in the long jump at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, a performance worth 1264 points.

She ended the event with three misses at 2.04m, just one centimetre less than the Belgian record held by Tia Hellebaut.

World indoor bronze medallist Yorgelis Rodriguez finished second at 1.86m, beating Bougard on countback. Thiam carried a 100-point lead over Bougard into the shot put, 2309 to 2209.

World bronze medallist Anouk Vetter won the shot put with a personal best of 15.91m to beat Thiam, who reached 15.29m, also a lifetime best. That effort extended her lead to 224 points over Rodriguez, who threw 14.95m, also a personal best. Bougard reached 13.02m to remain in the top three with 2938. Vetter, meanwhile, climbed from 14th to fourth.

Bougard clocked the fastest time in the 200m with 23.31 to overtake Rodriguez by 36 points to move back into second. Thiam, however, ended the first day with 4112 after clocking 24.61, the third best time of her career.

“It was a perfect first day despite the hot day,” said Thiam, who has in her sights Carolina Kluft’s European record of 7032 set at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. She is 56 points up on her first day total here from one year ago when she tallied 4056 en route to her 7013 performance, her first over the mighty 7000-point barrier.

“I don’t focus on the record. I set two PBs and we are only at the end of May. Last year I didn’t improve in the 100m hurdles and in the 200m in the first day. I had a very good feeling during the high jump. After clearing all the heights until 1.95m at the first attempt, I decided to skip 1.98m. I did not come here to reach the highest number of points but to test myself against the bar at 2.01m.”

Warner on cruise control

Warner, the Olympic bronze medallist, got his campaign for a fourth Gotzis victory off to a flying start, clocking 10.31 in the 100m, the fastest of the day, beating German Rico Freimuth (10.59) and Zach Zemek of the US (10.65).

Warner went on to set a season’s best in the long jump with 7.81m to increase his lead over Freimuth to 163 points in the overall standing. Ziemek jumped 7.43m to stay in third place.

The Canadian then threw a season’s best of 14.83m in the shot put to maintain his lead over Freimuth. The German produced a best put of 14.88m to stay in second, 14 points ahead of recent Multistars winner Martin Roe, who reached 14.99m.

World indoor bronze medallist Maicel Uibo from Estonia won the high jump, topping 2.12m on his second attempt to move up from sixth to second overall. Warner cleared 2.03m to keep his lead. Another Estonian, Karol Tilga, finished second with 2.09m to move from seventh to third.

Kai Kazmirek clocked the fastest time in the 400m with 47.27, beating Warner who clocked 47.72. Warner ended the first day with 4565 points, 218 more than Kazmirek, who moved up from sixth into second place with 4347. Uibo ranks third after five events with 4295.

Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF </s> TORRANCE — Jumping up and throwing her arms up in the air, West Ranch’s Shelbi Schauble set a new personal record in the girls triple jump at the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet at El Camino College on Saturday.

Schauble qualified for the CIF state meet with a jump of 38 feet, 8.25 inches, beating her previous personal best which was 38-4 set at the Arcadia Invitational.

Scratching her first jump, Schauble was able to regain her composure and successfully make the next two jumps at 36-11 and 38-00, respectively. She then followed up by scratching her fourth and fifth jumps setting up a dramatic sixth and final jump at 38-08 that would determine if she went through to state.

“I just knew somehow that I would get there,” Schauble said. “…It came down to that sixth jump and I was literally, like, crying after that fifth scratch like please just give it to me and it all came together. I never thought I would get this far and it’s such an amazing feeling.”

The first-year triple jumper finished seventh in the event and still thinks that she has to refine her craft a little more before the state meet next weekend in at Buchanan High School in Clovis.

“I have too work on my phases and just the little things like leaning into the jump,” Schauble said.

“My second phase definitely needs a lot of work. I think what got me far today was the fact that I worked so hard on my landing, so it’s really just improving on what I did today.”

For now, Schauble is planning on celebrating with some cookies, ice cream and candy.

“I’m a big dessert lover, so you know that’s what I’m ready for,” she said. </s> Iran’s Siamand Rahman wrote his name into the history books after doing what no man had ever done before – he cleared the bar at 310kg in the men’s over 107kg, setting a new world record and claiming his second consecutive Paralympic gold.

The world’s strongest Paralympian, who had lifted 296kg at a World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last February, was widely expected to break the 300kg barrier after years systematically improving his marks.

Rahman won gold at London 2012 with a 280kg lift. Two years later, he registered 285kg at the World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and 290kg at the Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea.

In Rio, the 28-year-old proved again that nothing can stop him in front of a noisy crowd that had gathered to witness the historic moment and never stopped chanting “Iran, Iran”.

“I feel very happy and proud for having broken the 300kg barrier and for being the strongest Paralympian in the world,”said Rahman afterwards. “I want to be an inspiration for all people with impairment who stay at home and don’t lead an active life, and especially for the youth."

Egypt’s Amr Mosaad claimed silver thanks to his 235kg lift in the last round, whilst Jordania’s Jamil Elshebli (234kg) sealed bronze.

“Winning silver is like winning gold to me. It is just impossible to defeat Rahman,” said Mosaad.

The other stand-out story of the day at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2 was the success of Josephine Orji. The Nigerian cleared 160kg, adding 7kg to her previous own world record to top the podium in the women’s over 86kg.

The world champion ended far ahead of Poland’s Marzena Zieba (134kg), who collected silver, and the Netherlands’ Melaica Tuinfort (130kg), who sealed bronze.

“It is very special for me to win gold at my first Paralympic Games,” said Orji.

With six golds, two silvers and one bronze, Nigeria topped the final Rio 2016 powerlifting medal tally.

“We eat a lot of good food and that is why we are so strong,” Orji added.

World champion Pavlos Mamalos confirmed he is the strongest in the men’s up to 107kg, breaking the Paralympic record with a 238kg lift on his way to gold, Greece’s second powerlifting medal at Rio 2016 after Dimitrios Bakochristos sealed bronze in the men’s up to 54kg.

Mamalos finished ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Ahmed (233kg) and Iran’s Ali Sadeghzadehsalmani (226kg), who claimed silver and bronze, respectively. The Greek later tried to break Azerbaijan’s Elshan Huseynov’s world record of 243kg but failed.

“Winning a gold medal is only possible if you are strong, brave and never give up. I am extremely happy,” said Mamalos.

“I have been working very hard to reach my best possible shape ahead of this Paralympic Games, training every day except Sundays in the morning and the afternoon.

“I never think of winning a medal before competing but of giving my best and being as focused on my lifts as possible.

“Next year we have the World Championships in Mexico, where I will try again to break the world record. And then I will start training for Tokyo 2020.” </s> PARIS — On a spectacular day in track and field, Kevin Mayer of France set a decathlon world record in front of a home crowd, hours after Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya smashed the marathon world record in Berlin.

Mayer, the world champion competing at the Decastar event in Talence in southwestern France, finished with a total of 9,126 points, improving on the previous record of 9,045 set by Ashton Eaton of the United States at the 2015 world championships in Beijing.

Kipchoge, 33, overturned the previous world record set in Berlin by a fellow Kenyan, Dennis Kimetto, in 2014 by 1 minute, 18 seconds.

“I lack words to describe this day,” Kipchoge said after becoming the first person to finish a marathon in less than 2 hours and 2 minutes.

“They say you miss two times but you can’t miss the third time,” he said in reference to his two previous failed attempts to break the world record in Berlin.

In the decathlon, Mayer fell on his back in celebration after crossing the line in the 1,500 meters – the last of 10 events – in 4 minutes, 36.11 seconds, a time he knew would guarantee him the record.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said Mayer, who became the first Frenchman to hold the decathlon world record. “We live for moments like this that are simply incredible. I couldn’t cry. I don’t have any more tears left because I was crying so much before the 1,500 meters.”

Mayer came to Talence on the back of a disappointing showing at last month’s European Championships, where he was eliminated after three fouls in the long jump. He made a strong start, setting a personal best in the 100 and long jump, but Mayer was 140 points behind Eaton’s record after the first day.

He was even more consistent Sunday with 13.75 seconds in the 110 hurdles and a 165 feet 10 inch throw in the discus. Mayer cleared 17-10 1/2 in the pole vault and reached 235 feet, 10 1/2 inches in the javelin.

The Decastar has been a major fixture of the season-end for years. Back in 1992, just after he missed out on the Barcelona Olympics, Dan O’Brien of the United States set a world record of 8,891 in Talence.

Eaton congratulated Mayer for his performance in a message posted on Twitter.

“That was an incredible display of ability!” he wrote. “Important thing to me has always been to keep pushing the limit and inspiring others to do the same. The more 9K can become commonplace the better.”

In Berlin, Kipchoge successfully defended his 2017 title, pulling ahead of other runners early amid perfect conditions. Mild temperatures and little to no wind in the German capital gave runners in the 45th edition an advantage over last year, when rain slowed the race.

A total of 44,389 runners from 133 countries took part in the race, organizers said. </s> That’s the way you start the road to redemption.

Damian Warner put together his best first day ever in a decathlon, piling up a personal best 4,565 points to establish a massive 218-point lead over second-place German Kai Kazmirek at the Hypomeeting Saturday in Gotzis, Austria.

The score is Warner’s best over the first five events by 35 points. It comes after last month’s disappointment at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, where he exited the competition after failing to record a height in pole vault.

In what will mark his final major event of this season, the 28-year-old Londoner put up a 10.31-second 100-metre dash, a 7.81m long jump, a 14.83m in shot put, a 2.03 high jump and clocked 47.72 seconds in the 400m.

The pole vault is part of Sunday’s second half.

But if Warner keeps rolling, he is on pace to shatter his Canadian record of 8,695 from the 2015 world championships in Beijing.

Warner is the two-time defending Gotzis champ and is looking for his fourth career title at the competition. Only one other decathlete has won it four times — Czech Roman Sebrle, who was first five years in a row from 2001-05.

Sebrle also holds the meet record of 9,026 points. </s> Ada Hegerberg put French musician Martin Solveig firmly in his place in a cringe-inducing moment after winning the inaugural Women’s Ballon d’Or award.

The Lyon and Norway striker had a remarkable 12 months for club and country and was rewarded at Monday evening’s ceremony in Paris, where Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric also lifted the men’s prize.

Hegerberg scored in this year’s Champions League final and seven of her Lyon team-mates were also among the nominees.

French DJ Martin Solveig – Nope, us neither – almost ruined Hegerberg’s night with an inexplicably sexist remark shortly after the forward collected her award.

Solveig stunned viewers by asking a visibly embarrassed Hegerberg if she wanted to twerk in celebration.

Thankfully, Hegerberg shut him down in style with a blunt response.

The Norwegian forward beat Denmark striker Pernille Harder and Germany midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan to the prize who finished second and third respectively.

Lucy Bronze was the highest-placed England player and finished sixth in the ranking.

‘I want to say thanks to my team-mates because this would not have been possible without them, my coach or our president Jean-Michel Aulas,’ Hegerberg said after lifting the award.

‘I also want to thank France Football. This is a huge step for women’s football.’

MORE: Luka Modric wins 2018 Ballon d’Or to end Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominance </s> French DJ Martin Solveig has been accused of sexism after asking Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg if she could twerk just moments after she won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or award.

The 23-year-old - who scored 15 goals for Lyon during a triumphant Champions League campaign last season - was encouraged to perform the provocative dance move as she gave her acceptance speech.

She replied "no" and turned away from the podium as Solveig laughed off her answer, as other footballers in the audience looked on in bemusement.

The bizarre incident has sparked outrage among fans online, with Solveig - who has apologised for causing offence - coming under heavy criticism for his "sexist", "disrespectful" and "disgusting" request.

One viewer, Sean Walker, tweeted: "Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg, first female Ballon D'Or winner after scoring over 250 career goals at the age 23, asked to twerk on stage in front of footballing giants and the public watching.

"Disgusting and really ruined her moment she deserved. Poor."

Football journalist Siavoush Fallahi added: "What kind of question is this? And why are these guys laughing? This is disgusting, I'm so sorry for Ada Hegerberg."

Responding to the criticism, Solveig tweeted: "Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended.

"My point was: I don't invite women to twerk but dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the full sequence. People who have followed me for 20 years know how respectful I am especially with women.

"I explained to @AdaStolsmo the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada."

Hegerburg claimed the award - voted for by journalists - after seeing off Wolfsburg and Denmark forward Pernille Harder, German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan, and England and Lyon defender Lucy Bronze.

It recognises her as the best female footballer in the world.

In her acceptance speech at the ceremony in Paris, she said: "I want to say thanks to my teammates because this would not have been possible without them, my coach or our president Jean-Michel Aulas.

"I also want to thank France Football. This is a huge step for women's football.

"And to young girls all over the world, please, believe in yourself."

France Football has handed out a men's Ballon d'Or every year since 1956 and the 2018 edition marked the first time in a decade that it had been won by someone other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Luka Modric won the award after helping Real Madrid to another Champions League trophy, before inspiring Croatia to an unlikely appearance in the World Cup final.

Cristiano Ronaldo came second and Antoine Griezmann - who was part of the France team that beat Croatia to the biggest prize in football - came third.

His countryman Kylian Mbappe won the inaugural Kopa Trophy for the best male player aged 21 and under. </s> Approximately 4,000 athletes from 26 different nations will compete across 33 sports throughout the 2018 Mediterranean Games, which kick-off tomorrow in Tarragona, Spain. Olympic champion Mireia Belmonte was recently announced as flag bearer for the host nation and will represent just one of several high-profile swimmers set to compete at the quadrennial event. Of note, this year’s Mediterranean Games were originally set to be held in 2017, however, the International Committee of the competition announced postponement due to funding problems amidst Spanish political and economic instability.

Belmonte took away 2 silver medals at the 2009 edition of the Mediterranean Games before sitting out the 2013 version. Back at it in 2018, the 200m fly Olympic gold medalist is ready to take on the field across the 400m free, 800m free, 200m fly, 200m IM and 400m IM events, setting the Spaniard up for a possible 5-gold result. Challenging her in the IM events will be Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes, the reigning world junior record holder in the 200m breast. 20-year-old Gunes will contest the 100m breast and 200m breast, as well as the 100m fly in Tarragona.

Egypt’s first-ever World Championships medalist, Farida Osman, is slated to race in the women’s 50m free, 100m free and 100m fly. In the sprint free races she’ll meet two French athletes in the form of Lena Bousquin and Marie Wattel. Italians Linda Caponi and Simona Quadarella will also be in the mix across several individual events.

While most of the women’s events have enough entires to provide at least 2 prelims heats, the 200m back and 400m IM events only show 8 women entered, ensuring all make it to the final.

The men’s array of talent includes Egypt’s Ali Khalafalla, Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev, along with Italy’s Luca Dotto, setting up a potentially super quick men’s splash n’ dash final. Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash and Serbia’s Velimir Stjepanovic will duel in the men’s 200m free, while Fabio Scozzoli of Italy and PJ Stevens of Slovenia will battle in the men’s 100m breast sprint.

1500m freestyle Olympic gold medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy is entered in his specialty event in Tarragona, marking the first time he’ll have swum the 1500m in over 10 months.
World and Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam becomes the first female heptathlete ever to jump over 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). In this year's heptathlon event at the Götzis, Austria, competition, she clears the bar at 2.01 m, also a season's best in women's high jump overall.