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Hardee wins decathlon gold medal at worlds

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-21 10:33

BERLIN: Trey Hardee of the United States won the decathlon gold medal Thursday at the world championships for his first major title.

Trey Hardee of the U.S.holds up his national flag as he celebrates after the 1500 metres event and winning the men's decathlon during the world athletics championships at the Olympic stadium in Berlin August 20, 2009. [Agencies]

Hardee posted personal bests in three of the 10 events and collected 8,790 points for the gold medal, his highest total to date and the best in the world this year.

"That was a goal of mine this week _ to smile, and just to have fun," Hardee said. "You got to look at the big picture, and overall its a decathalon PR."

Leonel Suarez of Cuba, the Olympic bronze medalist, took the silver with 8,640 points after a fast time in the 1,500-meter race, the final event. He moved past Aleksandr Pogorelov of Russia, who had to settle for the bronze with 8,528 points, a personal best.

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"I am very young, so I can try to win the world title in two years," the 21-year-old Suarez said. "After my bronze last year in the Olympics I now improved to silver."

On a sweltering day, the 25-year-old American secured the victory with a huge performance in the javelin, when he improved his personal best in each of the three throws, and a strong pole vault.

His previous personal record was 64.12 meters.

Already leading after seven events, Hardee first threw 65.20 meters. He followed with 66.86 and then improved even more in the third and final effort by throwing 68.00.

By the end of the penultimate event in the two-day competition, Hardee had a comfortable lead and could afford to run the 1,500 about six seconds outside his personal best and still capture the title.

Hardee, who had led after three events, returned to the lead after seven by running the fastest time in the 110-meter hurdles _ 13.86 seconds, his fastest of the year. He never dropped from the lead position again.

The American then followed with a throw of 48.08 meters in the discus, another best of the year.

Hardee cleared 5.20 meters in the pole vault, the best of the day. He had no misses at all five heights until 5.30, five centimeters higher than his previous personal best. He botched his run-up in the first attempt and could not lift off, running through onto the mat.

He brought the bar down in his second, then consulted with his coach again. In his third effort, Hardee didn't have enough height and went under the bar.

Then came the javelin, which allowed the American to stay in the lead ahead of the 1,500.

Hardee did not finish last year's Olympic decathlon. But this year he was runner-up in the prestigious decathlon competition in Goetzis, Austria.

"This isn't as sweet without last year," the American said. "And that was unbelievable motivation, to come back."

He raised his personal best by an incredible 256 points and became the No. 3 all-time American in the decathlon behind only Dan O'Brien and Bryan Clay. Clay, the Olympic champion, did not compete in Berlin because of injury.

Suarez had the best javelin effort of the day at 75.19 meters, which put him within reach of the silver.

"I was not happy about my first day," Suarez said. "But at the end, everything was very good for me."

Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic, the 34-year-old defending champion, faded to 11th after struggling on the second day.