Germany’s Leo Neugebauer is the overnight leader of the men’s decathlon after the first five events at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The 24-year-old world leader who won the NCAA championships in Eugene, USA in June with a national record of 8961 points, maintained his form with a solid first day at the Stade de France on Friday (2).
The German was solid, rather than spectacular, but his 100m (10.67), long jump (7.98m), shot put (16.55m), high jump (2.05m) and 400m (47.70) performances gave him a healthy first day total of 4650 and left him 42 points clear of Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme.
Norway’s Sander Skotheim, silver medallist at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, sits in bronze medal position overnight. His 4588 points included new personal bests in the long jump (8.03m) and 400m (47.02). Roma 2024 gold medallist Johannes Erm of Estonia is fifth at the halfway stage with 4510.
Elkasevic into fourth Olympic final
Sandra Elkasevic will compete in her fourth successive Olympic final after she routinely negotiated qualifying in the women’s discus.
Gold medallist in London 2012 and Rio 2016, the Croatian seven-time European champion threw 65.63m to qualify second behind the USA’s defending Olympic champion Valarie Allmann, who led the way with 69.59m. Competing in her seventh Olympics, France’s Melina Robert-Michon - the host nation's flag bearer at last week's Opening Ceremony - also made it through to Monday’s final, placing seventh with a season’s best 63.77m.
In the men’s shot put, European champion Leonardo Fabbri headed the qualifiers with 21.76m. Another gold medallist from Roma 2024, Spain’s Ana Peleteiro-Compaoré made it through the women’s triple jump qualification in fifth place with a best of 14.36m (-0.7m/s).
Hassan through in high quality 5000m heat
In a high-quality first heat of the women’s 5000m, the Netherlands’ defending Olympic champion Sifan Hassan qualified by finishing second in 14:57.65, just 0.09 behind world champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya. Italy’s European 5000m and 10000m champion Nadia Battocletti was also impressive, placing third in 14:57.65 to guarantee a place in Monday’s final.
World leader and European champion Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain eased through the 800m heats, winning her heat comfortably in 1:59.31.
In the mixed 4x400m relay heats, defending champions Poland, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Italy all made it through to Saturday’s final.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics