Simon Ehammer is in the running for decathlon gold at the European Championships in Munich. The 22-year-old from Appenzeller leads following five of the ten disciplines with 334 points ahead of the Italian Dario Dester.
Ehammer started the competition in the best way. He ran the 100m in 10”56 before soaring to 8m31 at the length. This jump is his second best personal mark behind the 8m45 of his Swiss record.
Ehammer then shot put at 14m24. In the evening, he crossed 2m08 at the height, which is his record. He completed this first day by running the 400m in 47”40, his best time of the season. The Swiss therefore logically occupies the lead with 4661 points. Dester has 4327 points and the Norwegian Sander Skotheim completes the provisional podium with 4324 points. It is however over for Kevin Mayer. World record holder and world champion in the decathlon, the Frenchman had to give up in the first discipline following an adductor injury.
Successful morning for Mancini and Frey
In the sprint, a successful morning for Pascal Mancini and Géraldine Frey. Aligned in the 100m series, the two athletes qualified for the semi-finals. Mancini won her race in 10″24, while the Zougoise took 3rd place in her series in 11″45.
Qualification also for the women’s pole vault final for Angelica Moser. The Zurich native passed a bar at 4m50. It went less well for Pascale Stöcklin who only erased 4m25. No more luck for Benjamin Gföhler at length, his 7m49 were not enough in qualifying. Quite crazy to see that with his 8m31, Ehammer would have easily qualified and that he would be the big favorite of the competition.
ats/lper
