Kevin Mayer scared himself during the pole vault competition, only passing his first 5m bar on his third try. A zero and that was the end of the Frenchman’s chances of regaining the world decathlon title. Coached for the occasion by Philippe d’Encausse, the decathlon world record holder had saved the essentials! He then had to pass 5.10m, then 5.20m on his second attempt and pass well over a bar at 5.30m on his first attempt, thus equaling his best jump of the year. But it was by achieving 5.40m on his second attempt that the Frenchman most reinforced his chances of regaining a world title won for the first time in 2017. Mayer had not jumped so high since 2018. He then failed three times at 5.50 m.
A big step before the javelin and the 1,500m
American Zach Ziemek, who was ahead of him by five points before the pole vault, also managed 5.40m. But the Frenchman should be far superior to him in the javelin as well as to Pierce Lepage.
In the other group, Canadian Pierce Lepage retained his leading position and his chances of a podium by clearing 5m. Author of only 4.50 m, the Puerto Rican Ayden Owens-Delerme was for his part ejected from the provisional podium.
After eight races, Canadian Pierce Lepage was in first place with 7,337 points ahead of Zach Ziemek (7,256), Kevin Mayer (7,251) and Ayden Owens-Delerme (7,069). Mayer is now the big favorite in the decathlon.
In the same group as the Frenchman, the Czech Jiri Sykora broke his pole during a try at 4.80m. Injured in the hand, he stopped his competition.