Canadians Warner, Theisen-Eaton win Hypo Meeting in Austria

GOETZIS, Austria – Canadian decathlete Damian Warner held on to his first-day lead to win the Hypo Meeting on Sunday, while fellow Canadian Brianne Theisen-Eaton set this year’s best mark in the women’s heptathlon.

Warner, who also won here three years ago, finished on 8,523 points and beat Kevin Mayer of France by 77. Last year’s winner Kai Kazmirek of Germany was 205 points back in third.

Leading Kazmirek by just seven points after Saturday’s five events, Warner easily won the 110 hurdles in 13.72 seconds to extend his lead to 76.

While the German dropped to third, Mayer reduced the gap in each of the following three events in difficult conditions due to wind and rain, which forced organizers to suspend the pole vault for half an hour.

Warner finally secured victory by finishing ahead of the Frenchman in the concluding 1,500 metres.

“It was important to win,” the world silver medallist said. “It was difficult but it was an important learning experience with a lot of ups and downs.”

Theisen-Eaton won the women’s competition of the Hypo Meeting for a third time. After also triumphing in 2013 and last year, the world silver medallist gathered 6,765 points.

Theisen-Eaton won one of the seven events — the long jump with a 6.56-meter effort — and remained 43 points short of her personal best mark she set while winning here last year.

The Canadian finished 143 points clear of Laura Ikauniece-Admidina of Latvia. Carolin Schaefer of Germany was 208 points back in third after reaching her personal best score of 6,557, while 2014 winner Katerina Johnson-Thompson of Britain, who was second after the opening day, dropped to sixth with 6,304.

Ivona Dadic set an Austrian record of 6,196 points but still remained four points short of the qualifying limit for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.