Olympic decathlon champion Damian Warner continued Canadian dominance at the annual Götzis Hypomeeting in Götzis, Austria, on May 18 and 19, winning his eighth title in the last 11 years.
Warner recorded 8,678 points throughout the 10 events over two days, winning by a margin of 161 points ahead of Sven Roosen of the Netherlands (8,517 points).
The 34-year-old trailed Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer after day one, but managed to reclaim the lead in the second event—the discus throw—on day two. With three events to come, Warner jumped a near personal best in the pole vault (4.80 meters) and threw a season’s best of 57.53 meters in the javelin to solidify his title entering the 1,500m event.
Warner’s marks across the 10 events were: 10.20 (100m), 7.80m (long jump), 14.55m (shot put), 2.03m (high jump), 47.46 (400m), 13.45 (110m hurdles), 46.41m (discus), 4.80m (pole vault), 57.53m (javelin), and 4:36.94 (1500m).
Between Warner and the reigning world champion, Pierce LePage, Canadian decathletes have won the last eight years at the Hypomeeting. LePage did not compete in Götzis due to a minor training injury he suffered a few weeks ago. Instead, he chose to rest and prepare for the Canadian Championships and the Paris Olympic Games later this summer.
Netherland’s Vetter wins second Götzis title
In the women’s heptathlon, Anouk Vetter of the Netherlands won her second Hypomeeting title with a world-leading score of 6,642 points. She beat Annik Kälin of Switzerland by 136 points, while Michelle Atherley of the United States was third.
Vetter surged up the leaderboard on day two of the seven-event competition with a huge throw of 57.91m in the javelin, which was four metres farther than her competitors. She moved into first with just the 800m to go and held on to win her second title in the last three years.
Her marks across the heptathlon were: 13.64 (100m hurdles), 1.74m (high jump), 15.37m (shot put), 23.73 (200m), 6.47m (long jump), 57.91m (javelin), and 2:21.37 (800m).
There were no Canadian athletes in the women’s heptathlon in Götzis, with Canada’s Georgia Ellenwood out with an injury.
