The 200m, the Heptathlon’s fourth discipline, concludes the Heptathlon event’s first day, August 15, at the National Stadium. After falling from first to second after the third discipline (Shot Put) American Hyleas Fountain has taken back the lead with a total score of 4060. Hyleas leads by 64 points.
Nataliia Doybrynska of Ukraine is now in second place with 3996 as her combined total. She was only seventh after the 100m hurdles and then dropped to tenth after High Jump. With an astounding 17.29m Shot Put distance she climbed to first place, bumping Fountain from the top spot. But after the 200m she dropped to second.
Kelly Sotherton from Great Britain, favorite at the start of the Heptathlon, has climbed up to third with a total of 3938 points. Unfortunately, when asked if she was happy with her performance after this last discipline, Sotherton replied, “No. Because I should be in first, easy.” She sat fourth after the 100 hurdles and fifth after the next two disciplines. With three disciplines to go, will Sotherton be able to best her bronze in Athens 2004?
Anna Bogdanova presently in fourth place may also have a shot at a medal tomorrow. She hovered between second and third position for the first three disciplines but tomorrow she will have her chance to move up.
The Olympic Heptathlon will continue August 16 at the National Stadium, starting at 9:00 a.m. (UTC/GMT +8).
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)