Pentathlon: memories from Universiade in Sofia almost 50 years ago (0)

The Pentathlon contest (19-20 Aug 1977) of Summer Universiade in Sofia on August 1977 was very exciting and thrilling occurrence for all spectators at “Vasil Levski” stadium in Bulgarian capital…  For the first time in 1977 the last Pentathlon event (200 m) was replaced with 800 m.

No fewer than 16 women appeared at the morning of 19th August 1977. Two of toughest favorites – Soviet Ekaterina Smirnova and US 15 times recordholder Jane Frederick clashed in the first heat of 100 m hurdles (headwind of -0.8 m/s). Both made personal bests (Smirnova 13.23 & Frederick 13.24) and American established NR also! In second heat winner was Riki Lechner (AUT) 13.67 (+1.2) (with Bulgarian Valentina Dimitrova third with pb of 14.02 and Soviet Olga Rukavishnikova 14.04). In third heat French Laurence Lebeau won in 13.67 (+1.8) – the identical mark as in the previous heat…

Second event of the day was shot put. Yet in her first attempt, Dimitrova set pb of excellent 15.68 m (which remained the best of the day). Frederick herself made three good efforts – 15.01, 15.26, 15.13 and led after second event in 1876 points, in front of Dimitrova (1799) and Smirnova (1780), as Ekaterina was some below her good times with 13.53 m. Only Lechner could else exceed 14 meters – 14.08 and placed currently fourth in 1752 points. West German Liesel Albert was not so far behind – 1704 points (13.81 hurdles & 13.58 SP)….

Netherlands Sylvia Barlag became “highest” in the third event – High Jump. She managed to get over 1.82 m for the best of the day. Second was Dimitrova with personal best of 1.80 m (her third in raw for the day). Four other girls succeeded at 1.78 – Gloria Borfiga (Fr), Smirnova (USSR), Frederick (USA) and blonde Rukavishnikova. So, the standings after third event were: Frederick 2888, Dimitrova 2830, Smirnova 2792…

The fourth event of Pentathlon scheduled for the next morning (20thAugust) in the early hours of 9:30 AM. No one could even surpass 6.20 m (as Rukavishnikova had pb of 6.52 m, Smirnova 6.58 at the time). The best of the morning was Dutch Sylvia Barlag (6.18 (+2.2), a single centimeter ahead of Rukavishnikova 6.17 (+0.9). Smirnova herself recorded twice in raw 6.12 m, but Dimitrova (6.10 (+2.0) established another good pb. Her next two leaps exceeded 6.20, but were both declared fouls. The identical 6.10 (+1.8) was registered bu Austrian Lechner. Frederick looked in real disaster – 5.65, 5.98, 5.83. She couldn’t adjust her approaching all the time and in every of her three efforts seemed well behind the take-off board. After fourth event: Frederick 3790, Dimitrova 3758, Smirnova 3725, Lechner 3625, Rukavishnikova 3552, Albert 3453 points….

In hot evening (19:15) of 20th August two heats were scheduled for the last Pentathlon event – 800 m. In first of them firm winner was Suisse Balmann – 2:14.4. In second event Bulgarian Valentina Dimitrova took the lead just after the gun. She passed the first 400 m in a mighty 59.5 sec., followed by Albert (FRG) and Frederick. Another favorite - Smirnova herself could’t maintain the fast pace….. At the last 150 m West German Liesel Albert bypassed Dimitrova and went to victory in (2:12.9). Dimitrova arrived second at finish line in another excellent pb of 2:13.5, in front of exhausted Frederick (2:16.5) and disappointed Smirnova (2:19.4). The tall Rukavishnikova finished behind for 2:23.6, but more devastating was Riki Lechner – last in heat in miserable 2:35.4 min.

So Bulgarian Valentina Dimitrova gained World University title in a huge National record of 4630 points – fifth in current all time rankings after Eva Wilms (FRG) 4823, Nadezhda Tkachenko (USSR) 4689, Diane Jones-Konihowski (CAN) 4639 and Burglinde Pollak (GDR) 4633 points. The score of Jane Frederick (4625 points) appeared to be also NR, only FIVE points after Dimtirova. Third remained Ekaterina Smirnova in 4521 points (exactly 100 points below her pb). Because of her excellent 800 m effort  Liesel Albert (FRG) placed fourth in 4337 points, ahead of Olga Rukavishnikova 4298, Riki Lechner (Aut) 4230, Sylvia Barlag (Ned) 4220, Anna Balatonni (Hun) 4205 etc.

Alexander Vangelov for Decathlon 2000