Heptathlon news like Pole Vault news (0)

In the 2013 version of the decastar in Talence Renaud Lavillenie tried to break the decathlon pole vault record of 5m76 from Tim Lobinger established in Leverkussen on 16/09/1999. That would have made him a double world record holder in combined events for this unique event, because he’s already co-world record holder pole vault in heptathlon  with 5m60 (21/12/2008). Aleksandr Averbukh being the first to reach that height in 1998. Lavillenie did 5m27 and 5m47 but although jumping 5m96 less than ten days before, he didn’t managed to get over 5m67 in Talence. This is part of the sport and Lavillenie still became the pole vaulter who participated in decathlon as well as in heptathlon with the highest jump ever done in this event.

But what happened this weekend? This guy jumped 6m16 without touching the bar, breaking the more than 20 years old world record from legend Sergey Bubka! The last time that someone was the owner of a world record in pole vault as well as in a combined event was in the year 1980 and the owner was Olympic champion Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz. On 11/05/1980 he jumped 5m72 in Milano and later in the year on 30/07/1980 in Moscow he jumped 5m78. Meanwhile he’s WR in decathlon from 5m50 stayed from 1977 until 26/03/1986 when Timothy Bright broke his record. Time for Lavillenie to think about a second participation in Talence!

But there is other pole vault news. The world record holder in heptathlon and decathlon went to New York to warm up for the coming world champion games. He became fifth in the pole vault with a new personal record of 5m35! That brings he’s sum of pb’s to 9501 points and I thought he became the third best jumper on the basis of personal bests. But another very good heptathlete became best ever from that standpoint, moving everyone one step down. Japeth Cato vaulted 5m55 (18-2 ½) in Fayetteville. Cato who became fifth performer of 2013 in heptathlon with 6155 points is as far as we know best jumper in the world concerning the decathlon/heptathlon jumping-events.

Here’s a list of all circumstances personal bests*:

*Correction is very welcome.

In the Netherlands in Apeldoorn Eelco Sintnicolaas (6242) and Thomas van der Plaetsen (6188) participated in a heptathlon and are hoping for a ticket to the world champs next month. They posted the two leading marks of this year also thanks to good pole vaulting (E S – 5m40/T v – 5m30). Hardee was leading after the pole vault. If he could have performed at his pb level (2 45.67) in the 1K, he would have got more than 6100 points but leg cramps killed him and he ended (3  15.16) at 5959 points.