Updated at 8:58 p.m., Monday, August 23, 2004

SPOILER: Decathlon results for Bryan Clay

Advertiser Staff and News Services

ATHENS, Greece — A fast start put Hawai'i's Bryan Clay in medal position after the first day of competition in the Olympic decathlon.

Clay, who had the best marks in the 100-meter dash and long jump, amassed 4,554 points and is in third place. His career best total of 8,660 points came at last month's Olympic Trials in Sacramento.

Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan leads the competition after the first of two days of competition with 4,689 points.

World-record holder Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic is second with 4,594 points. Sebrle's strength is on the second day when decathletes compete in the pole vault and the javelin, Sebrle's specialty.

Five events were completed today — the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters.

The final five — 110-meter high hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1,500 — will be completed tomorrow.

Clay, a Castle High alum, had the fastest time in the day's first event, running the 100 in 10.44 seconds. That earned him 989 points.

Clay also had the best mark in the second event when he long jumped 26 feet, 1 inch, his best this year. That added 1,050 points.

Clay fouled on his first jump, went 24-7 on the second before popping a 26-1 in the third.

“I was told Bryan had the best week of training he's ever had coming into this; that's got to give him plenty of confidence the rest of the way,” said Dan O'Brien, the 1996 Olympic champion and former world record holder.

However, Clay faded in the final event, which is one of his strengths.

After high-jumping 2.06 meters (nearly 6 feet 8), Clay totally faded to 49.19 in the 400. A usual sub-48 runner, Clay lost valuable points.

Dean Macey of Germany is in fourth place with 4,454 points.

The 2003 World Champion Tom Pappas, Clay's teammate, is in fifth with 4,415 points and the reigning Olympic champion Erki Nool of Estonia is in 13th place with 4,158 points.

Elliott Denman of the Gannett News Service and Athens2004.com contributed to this report.

Source: Athens2004.com