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do you know if there is already an official list who's going to participate in Barcelona or when that might be published? I took a look around on the internet and found some athletes that have already been nominated by their national federations (though no guarantee if that's correct. . ) (Pascal Behrenbruch ‐ still undecided as far as i know) Mikk Pahapill Andres Raja Mikk Mihkel Arro …

just a couple of days after Kladno we are going to see the inofficial German championships in Ratingen ‐ just found the entry list: http: //www. leichtathletik. de/index. php?SiteID=643 nice to have the Cubans there once again ‐ but apart from that hardly any international competitors (unlike earlier years). and I'm missing some of the German athletes there as well ‐ …

Inspired by Janek's blog about how good competitors in Götzis actually were a question occurred to me: what is the biggest improvement of his PB that a decathlete has ever achieved in a competition? I just started asking myself that as I remembered Andrei Krauchanka in Götzis 2007 smashing his PB by 604 points or also Eelco Sintnicolaas in Götzis 2009 (improved by 545 points) and I …

does anyone know yet who's definitely going to start in Kladno?

with just about 2 weeks to go until the Indoor WC - is there already a list available which athletes are to be invited to participate? I know there are certain rules (current world champion, outdoor top list 2009 etc.), but I don't know the exact ones and who is going to be your favorite for the Heptathlon World Title?

I would like to talk about something that's been on my mind actually since the Berlin WC in august. During the broadcasts on German television the reporters were quite often complaining about the way the decathlon is presented at World Championships or Olympic Games: ‐ The big starter field causes events like the high jump to take a long time. This is bad for both athletes, …

So it's just two days left until the World Champs finally start! Who do you think will be the medallists in the decathlon competition this year? And what about German decathletes ‐ any chance for them? I've put a sheet of all decathletes (as from the provisional entry lists) online on my homepage with PBs and room to write down and compare this year's results: http: //decathlonfans. de. …

http: //leichtathletik. de/index. php?SiteID=643 the entry list for Ratingen is online. No real surprises ‐ all German athletes are on there. Two international names with Garcia and Pahapill If you look at the PBs it could definitely be an exciting competition. My guess is (so far ‐ might change. . . ) (1) Garcia ~8500 (2) Behrenbruch ~8450 (3) Schrader …

has anyone found another stream than the ORF one (only works with an Austrian IP on the internet I think..). Really wish I was in Götzis (weather and everything looks fantastic), but just too far away from London...

I don't know about the olympics, but I'd expect them to use the same standards. they just want less athletes to participate in the big championships. you can somehow understand it on the one hand, as decathlon competitions usually take very long with 25 to 30 athletes competing. but I think that's the great thing about it and it would be bad for athletes with scores around 7. 900 points …

great idea - though in weeks with no competitions or news there might be fewer photos to share.. personally i like this one that i took in Barcelona (though the quality is not as good http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=31332715&id=1453687329

on TV they said Zsivoczky had ended his carrer, though I don't actually know if that's true..

don't forget about Krauchanka - in my opinion he's also back in the race and if Wiberg gets close to his Berlin performance he might have a shot at the title as well

http://www.european-athletics.org/files/ech/finalentry_ech10_men.pdf

I don't like to copy - but that would be my guesses as well. not so much choice this time...

maybe 2 decathlons in just 2 1/2 weeks were a little too much. I read Clay still had some problems with his leg after touching a hurdle in Götzis. quite good decathlons so far though by some of the other guys...

amazing the results for the running events. I think a lot of countries would be glad to have specialist runners who can run those times.. I'd be really glad if he could do some meetings in Europe last year (like Götzis / Talence) - maybe he could even improve his total score more when having some real opponents..

rather average discus (41.71) and pole vault (4.70).. but still on a way to a good pb overall I hope

after day 1 Eaton with 4500 points - around the score of his best decathlon. great 400 metres in 46.28

http://www.iaaf.org/wce10/results/eventCode=4414/sex=M/discCode=100/combCode=DEC/roundCode=u/entrylist.html#det complete entry list from the IAAF homepage

9026 CZE SEBRLE Roman 8832 USA CLAY Bryan 8725 KAZ KARPOV Dmitriy 8644 JAM SMITH Maurice 8585 BLR KRAUCHANKA Andrei …

I've read now both Arnold and Newdick are coming to Kladno as well What about Sebrle? It's his home meeting after all..

I would also be interested in recordings of this year's meeting or any other actually. @Ivan: would it be possible that you send me copies of your DVDs from the previous years? just contact me by email (jesbul158@web.de) to talk about the payment!

crazy days at Götzis - perfect conditions on day 1 and day 2 was as bad as it can get... especially in the pole vault - i think it was even 6 jumpers with NM. I really hope for better weather next year I think considering the circumstances 8483 is actually a pretty good score for Clay. and at least 10 athletes with 8000 points (though rather low scores).

I see we agree on quite a couple of things - especially the individual event winners

my predictions Who will win? - Clay Who will be on the podium? Clay, Hardee, Behrenbruch How many 8000-pointers 14 Who will win in the individual events? hardee-kasyanov-drozdov-krauchanka-diaz clay-behrenbruch-sintnicolaas-suarez-bouraada will we see an WR or not? I don't think so, weather forecast is not really helping...

in 2001 we just decided last minute to go to Götzis - and of course never regretted it. an amazing competition that I will certainly always remember. I can't forget that elderly woman e.g. standing next to me, who was totally out of her mind during the 1.500m.

still a great start list, especially now that the Cuban team has arrived as well. what are your predictions regarding the podium this year? any great scores (depends on the weather a little I suppose)

I am actually a little tired about discussing the decathlon scoring method. I'm sticking to my opinion that maybe the current system is not absolutely fair, but neither are any systems proposed by other people. Introducing a new system would need a lot of changes and will also start new discussions (like introducing the new false start rule for the sprinters) just 2 remarks to Phil's …

sorry Phil ‐ you're right. I just saw the numbers you provided and started making assumptions without really thinking about it. I actually like the idea to make the value of the points a little more obvious with the percentages of current world records. But setting the world record or the current results as 100% means that the scores for the decathlon keep on changing. not just the …

actually your proposal looks quite similar to the current scoring system which is, as far as I know also based on the world records at the time of its introduction. though it does not just use percentages but more complicated mathematic formulas. still the disadvantages the current system has would also be applied to your suggestion. even more throwing events are even valued less (difference …

I just read both of the documents to see how they try to work on the differences in scores between sprint events and throwing events. in my opinion any system suggested or introduced will always have aspects that can be considered unfair or might be improved the first model for example, as far as I can see, clearly favours the throwing event. I just did some experiments and e. g. to get …

I think both Andre Niklaus and Romain Barras are also going to compete.

really great score by Ennis in Doha (I have to admit I just noticed it now) - not that far away from the World Record (just about 50 points). I always find it fascinating that she jumps 1,90m or more in the high jump...

I was gone for a couple of days without the time to comment on the Indoor WC. Actually I have to say I was quite disappointed as there was no TV coverage at all from the event here in Germany (I don't know about other places of course). And it seems to have been quite a close competition (as expected maybe). Though I expected a bit higher scores in the end, especially with respect to …

as far as I know in Germany they have regular training camps (like in South Africa or other places) with all the top decathletes, while normally they practice at their respective clubs. But I think it absolutely makes sense for the decathletes to train together at least sometimes; everybody could benefit quite a lot from it. Also I suppose for the coaches it might be good to exchange ideas to …

just saw the first results: looks quite good for Kasyanov so far. both us guys with short jumps in the long jump. I suppose that will now decrease their chances of going for the top spot.

Tatyana Chernova also scored a superb 4855 points in the pentathlon at the Russian Championships 2 weeks ago (60mH 8. 38, HJ 1. 86, Shot 13. 38, LJ 6. 72, 800m 2: 12, 70) She has a PB in the heptathlon of 6618 points so far (Götzis 2008), but she only jumped 1. 73 in the high jump there. So I think she could improve that score by about 200 points with the high jump alone. Though last …

oh that would be really amazing if Clay and Hardee both went for a 9. 000 score. I can actually imagine both to be able to do it. Though like you said Clay has been out of competition for a year. And Hardee already had a really good decathlon last year in Berlin with close to 8. 800 points, so one will have to see if he still has the potential to improve (probably the high jump, 400m, …

I was really impressed by Ennis last year how easily everything went in the Berlin heptathlon. Especially her first day is outstanding and now she seems to improve even more in some events. And she came back from a serious injury the year before, so now ‐ if she stays healthy and fit and everything ‐ she can improve her overall score by ~ 200 points. But for Klüft's score …

true ‐ his results lately have been quite astonishing. but I don't actually think he's going to be a candidate for the 9000 points. Of course he's really fast and has great results in all his jumps. But as B. J. pointed out his throwing events are just too bad to be seriously considered for the 9000 points. I didn't look it up but I'm pretty sure Sebrle at that age had much …

right - I should probably also post my predictions (1) Suarez (2) Krauchanka (3) Hardee (maybe also chances for Sebrle, Behrenbruch, García)

so now Moritz Cleve will be nominated instead (though - he passed the test of the German decathlon team this weekend.

http://www.ftd.de/sport/sportmix/leichtathletik/ips-statt-Medaille-Für-Schrader-platzt-WM-Traum/540320.html Sorry - i hope this time posting the link will work..

Schrader apparently injured and maybe won't be able to compete in Berlin - that's a huge setback for the German team just found that here http://www.ftd.de/sport/sportmix/leichtathletik/ips-statt-Medaille-Für-Schrader-platzt-WM-Traum/540320.html - but nothing yet from the Zehnkampfteam / DLV... Just hope he gets better soon, maybe it's not that bad after all!

really nice results at the Combined Events Cup I think. . Nothing too great, but 8. 300 is a good start into the season for both Krauchanka and Pogorelov. I suppose they might both have the chance to get over / close to 8. 500 in Berlin. . does anyone know how the Russians are nominating their team for the WC? If Sysoyev is not injured or anything they should have 4 candidates to choose from …

you may call me badly informed - but are they going to nominate Arnold now that he didn't get the A-standard at the Trials. But he has already the score from Götzis anyway with more than 8000 points..

Sysoyev has already competed once this year (though only just over 8000 points) - but maybe he's injured?? But it's a really nice entry list for the European Cup - it'll be interesting to see how Krauchanka is doing...

that was my second thought too: now we're going to have a really tough decathlon competition in Berlin. So many athletes who can score around 8500 points.. who do you think will compete for the US team in Berlin? Trey Hardee of course (doing a good job so far in Eugene, let's just hope nothing goes wrong there) - but apart from him?

Clay is not competing at the Trials today - did not start in the 100m race. Good race for Hardee in 10.43 though.. But really bad luck for Clay - that means no World Championships for him then...

bad conditions on the first day - so the scores are ok I think. And it's a pretty close race so far - but I think Sebrle is going to win. What was wrong with Karpov? I read he was recovering from an injury.. By the way: some missing guys (Krauchanka, Pogorelov, Barras..) on the teams for the European Cup of Combined Events this weekend. Especially the first League Teams look quite good.

Behrenbruch said something about being really tired after the competition in Götzis. So it was hard for him now to compete in Ratingen (though before the competition he seemed pretty confident, with high expectations)... Indeed bad luck for Pahapill - he was doing a good job until the pole vault.

hm, I'll stick to my predictions from two weeks ago - except for Schrader and Niklaus of course.. So it would look like this (1) Garcia ~8500 (2) Behrenbruch ~8450 (3) Pahapill ~8350 (4) Müller ~8300 (5) Minah ~8100

that was really bad news about Abele and Niklaus. But I think the Germans will still have a really strong decathlon squad in Berlin. Probably it would have been difficult for both Abele and Niklaus to get into the team. Schraders and Behrenbruchs score were really good already and I believe Norman Müller could improve further. Now I really hope they stay fit until August!!

I didn't expect that kind of competition, especially after the entry list was reduced even further with Krauchanka the Cubans (really good result by Garcia though in Habana) missing and Smith Drozdov out of the competition quite early. But the conditions were great (except for the wind sometimes ‐ but at least it was not too hot as in earlier years) And I hope next year some more …

Great performance of all Germans in Götzis (maybe except for Jacob Minah ‐ 8000 would have been possible at least). For Behrenbruch there is even more in it ‐ on the first day he was running below his possibilities. So I hope he can do even better either in Ratingen or even better in Berlin. And Schrader was amazing of course ‐ 7 PBs is just great (even though I hate the …

Not a very convincing entry list ‐ no athlete yet over 8000 points and no real names ‐ that used to be different in Arles I think. But if the conditions are fine we might see the first 8000 points by either Dhouibi or Logel (who was pretty good during the indoor season) As far as I know there's nothing new on Romain Barras ‐ I suppose if he was fit again he would start in …

my top 3: 1. Hardee 2. Krauchanka 3. Kasyanov but I'd love to be surprised by some German athletes my event winners: 100m - Kasyanov LJ - Krauchanka Shot - Behrenbruch HJ - Krauchanka 400m - Diaz 110mH - Hardee Discus - Smith PV - Arnold Javelin - Wiberg 1500m - Wiberg (sorry they look so much the same - but I didn't cheat ) does anybody know why Karpov isn't coming?

SCHWARZL Roland; AUT; 8102 GOURMET Francois; BEL; 7974 XHONNEUX Frederic; BEL; 8142 KRAUCHANKA Andrei; BLR; 8617 DIAZ Yunior; CUB; 8057 GARCIA Yordani; CUB; 8257 SEBRLE Roman; CZE; 9026 RAJA Andres; EST; 8118 BEHRENBRUCH Pascal; GER; 8242 MINAH Jacob; GER; 8099 MÜLLER Norman; GER; 8255 SCHRADER Michael; GER; 8248 SZABO Attila; HUN; 7526 FRULLANI William; ITA; 7984 …

there was an article on iaaf.org in April saying Pahapill would compete - but probably your information is a little more up to date. pity actually on his website Romain Barras also announced to participate in Götzis - but now they're saying he's injure, so maybe he won't be able to make it.

my guess is on jake arnold..

hey, right ‐ that's what I read too. I also discovered on his website that Romain Barras will be starting his season in Götzis. And I suppose most of the German athletes will also come, to get ready for Ratingen. As for Niklaus' potential: I also have to admit that maybe he doesn't have the best chances. The young Germans definitely have more potential ‐ you are also …

Hey, true ‐ especially last year it was really bad luck for him, when he couldn't finish in Ratingen. So he really deserves to go to the WC this year. Although I probably think so for every athlete ; ) Still ‐ I personally hope Andre Niklaus will make it to the WC. It's his hometown and I'm sure he has been working to that event for some time. But in general it's great …

Of course there's a huge difference between the actual points given for 100m or 1500m, if you look at the number itself. But if you look at the differences instead of the absolute number of points, you see that someone who runs 1500m in 5: 00 gets 560 points compared to 745 points for 4: 30 (a more or less average time I think) which makes a difference of 185 points. For 10. 4 in the 100m …

I love this discussion : S Of course it's different if you're just running 1500m or doing a whole decathlon ‐ but that actually applies to all of the athletes. Probably some of them spend a little less energy on the first 9 events, actually that's an interesting question. . And I am certainly not trying to say any athlete could run 4: 30 after doing 9 events. I am really admiring …

i think Matt is quite right about the genetic makeup you need for running a 10. 40. most people could practice for years and never reach that time. as for the 1500 I don't really think you need some specific genetic makeup to run 4: 30. probably you need it to run times close to the world's elite over that distance, but not for a 4: 30 ‐ like Matt said: with a lot of practice most …

But I wouldn’t say Clay is „choosing“ the 1500m as his bad or weak event because it gets you few points, but because he is just not the endurance type. And I suppose he could have run a little faster, it’s just that he didn’t have to. You could also blame Erki Nool then for choosing the pole vault as his strong disciplines, because it awards a lot of points. I think it’s a …

I have to say I also disagree with your opinion. Although I might be a little too young to judge – but I think it’s not really appropriate to compare today’s results in the decathlon, or also other athletics disciplines to the results of the 80s. I might be a little prejudiced there, but not everything was done right at that time. So I’m rather glad that results in the decathlon are …

sorry to disappoint you there - but the 1996 Atlanta decathlon was even more impressive concerning the scores - with 19 athletes exceeding 8100 points. though i'm definitely not trying to make this year's field look bad

exactly ‐ the 1500s can make a huge difference ‐ look at Pogorelov who was tied in 3rd place with Suarez before the running but fell behind with almost 200 points. Clay doesn't have to put more effort into his running than he's already doing because of his performance in the other events, giving him a huge lead. If you really think about changing the tables I think it should …

Hi Enn, when I read the first part of your post about competitor's responsibility before spectators I thought that's absolutely right: athletes are competing not for the spectators but only for themselves. But would you actually consider acting below your real possibilities cheating? That everytime you don't give everything you have and go to the limit, it's cheating yourself? In my …

I suppose the fight for the medals will between Clay, Drozdov, Kasyanov and Krauchanka. I don't know about Hardee's indoor results, but he should also have a chance, as well as Pogorelov. Suárez I think won't be able to get close to his outdoor results, as there is no javelin ; ) And Sebrle is maybe getting too old by now to compete with the younger athletes. . Anyway, I'm looking …

For the Combined Events, eight (8) athletes will be invited by the IAAF in the Heptathlon and in the Pentathlon as follows: the three best athletes from the 2009 Outdoor Lists (as at 31st December 2009) limited to a maximum of one per country and the three best athletes form the 2010 Indoor Lists during (as at 22nd February 2010) two athletes which may be invited at the discretion of the IAAF …

thanks for the link to the report. i only saw the results and wondered, what's up with Bryan Clay.. already feared he wouldn't be able to compete at Osaka, but apparently he'll be invited there anyhow...

on the site of the German athletics federation there are formulas for calculating points in all the events. unfortunately it is in german. you can create your own scoring table for heptathlon in exce with these formulas http://www.leichtathletik.de/Dokumente/images_original/7239_orig_Mehrkampf-Punktwertung.pdf

probably also dmitry karpov's two false starts this year. he was out of the competition before it even started, and he would have had a good chance of winning another medal

I think there have been a couple of young athletes, aged 19 or 20, before, who scored over 8000 points at that age. and only few of them really managed to adjust to senior decathlon. but if he continues like he's doing right now, he might be one of the world's top 5 decathletes very soon.