Volume XXXII Number 12 May (5), 2007 CLAY’S 4593 LEADS 1st DAY at GöTZIS NACAC and Collegiate Scores Hello Again……My 20th stop at the Hypo-Bank meeting in Gotzis. And I can not recall a more exciting first day as Bryan Clay posted five terrific marks, knocking them off one after another and ran up a gaudy score (PR was 4554 at 33rd Hypo—Bank Meeting Athens on way to 8820 silver medal). He Götzis, Austria leads by . May 26-27, 2007 With good weather forecasted for Day One day 1, defending champ Bryan Clay was primed for a quality score. Much was 100 Meters: [11:40 – 12:00 pm] made by the press about a possible world record (most recently set here in 2001 by Roman Sebrle) by Bryan downplayed the notion saying, “I’m here to do as well as I can and have fun doing it. If the record comes it comes.” The field was a rerun of the 2004 Athens Games and the same field started here in 2006 when Clay Bryan Clay in the 100m starting blacks at Götzis became the first American decathlon Temp in low 80s by 11:40 am. winner, after 32 years. Seeded by ability. Section I included vet At the same time, the annual North Tomas Dvorak, a crowd favorite at Mosle American-Central American stadium and he responded with a win in Championships were under way in Santo 11.03, pretty good for age 35. Domingo, Dominican Republic with a trio In section II, with dead calm of elite Yanks, Paul Terek, Ryan Harlan conditions local Markus Walser/AUT ran and Chris Boyles participating. away with a popular win in 10.97 seconds. As well the final weekend in may In the 3rd race, tall Andrei is used for the national championships for Kranchanka/BLR, running on the outside, smaller institutions. The NCAA Div II, was clear of German Norman Muller only Div III and NAIA meets were conducted in the last 10 meters and won in in Charlotte, NC, Oshkosh, WI and 10.86.IAAF indoor champ Andrei Fresno, CA respectively. Nicklaus/GER and ex Kansas Stater Josef on his head and resembling a wounded Karas/CZE were back. soldier….don’t ask) managed 7.46m24-5 In the 4th race, where the ave age 3/4 . Boy, conditions were good…temps was 22, Paccal Behrenbruch/GER, last about 72 degrees. When Bryan Clay was year’s “Rookie of the Meet,” was 3rd to announced he played it cautiously (read: teammate Jacob Minah whose 10.80 was just off toeboard) and still sailed 7.49m/ aPR. Minah tumbled and fell just past the 24-7. Roman Sebrle followed with a finish but avoided taking the rest of the perfect 7.84m/25-8¾, but the tall Dmitri field with him. Karpov was 16’ off and still sailed 7.22m/ In the final section, Bryan Clay 23-8¼.. In round # the winds picked up drew lane 4, Roman Sebrle lane 1 and and Dvorak cheaed hi umbrella onto the Dmitri Karpov lane 2. A pair of former infield before managing a 4cm NCAA champs, Maurice Smith and improvement. Krauchanka then bounded a Claston Bernard were in lanes 3 and 6. winning 7.90m/25-11 before many could Clay reacted sluggishly reaction not handle the additional breezes and time 0.171) to the gun but by 40 meters fouls were common. One who did handle was well clear of the field. Pumping the situation was Clay who, although well furiously with exaggerated left arm, he ran beyond his halfway check point on his 2nd the last 50 meters better than ever. His approach, throttled back and hit the board 10.40 (the field clock read 10.39) just with a nano cm to spare. He reached missed the meet record and he won by 6 7.80m/25-7¼ with a +3.7 aiding wind.. meters over Mo Smith, now sprint trained Surprisingly neither Sebrle nor Karpov by Mel Rosen at Auburn. Clay/USA 10.40 Smith/JAM 10.71 Bryan Clay reached Dhoubi/TUN 10.92 7.80m/25-7¾ twice Karpov/KAZ 10.92 pushing him past a 2k score after 2 events. Bernard/JAM 11.05 Sebrle/CZE 11.10 [Set to gun 0.4] After One: Clay 999, Smit 926,Mina 906 ...Karp 878……. Sebr 838 Long Jump: [12:45 – 1: 35 pm] 20 minutes before the start meet director Konrad Lerch turned the event improved, the latter still having step around to take advantage of turning problems, perhaps because he has the winds. No one knows the area better than longest approach of all the competitors. he and he was exactly right, so that by the Seven fouls dotted round #3 and start conditions were really breezy. one belonged to Claston Bernard, the The better part of the crowd former NCAA king from LSU, who no- (@3000) was at the south end to watch the marked. Bryan went for broke on his last heptathlon high jump. Those in the effort and managed another 7.80m/25-7¾ grandstand saw Tomas Dvorak lead off (wind +2.0) but just missed the toeboard. section A with a 7.42m/24-¼. O my, this Sebrle passed and when Karpov was 2 was going to be an event! BelaRussian feet back on his final attempt the event jumping bean Andrei Krauchanka was abruptly over. followed with 7.67m/25-2. Andre In Group B the winners was young Nicklaus, wearing a white handkerchief Abele who reached 7.29m/23-11. After Two: Clay 2009, Krau 1937, Sebr This may have been the best mass 1858…….Karp 1744. high jumping at Mosle Stadium since the Shot Put: [2:10 – 2:50 pm] days of Christian Schenk/GDR and The event had no energy…and, William Motti/FRA. The weather with the exception of Mo Smith, was inproved and there were still breezes from unremarkable. But, if your name is Mr. the south (behind the back of those Smith, you rule the northwest corner of jumping from left side( read: Clay). Mosle Stadium. Maurice wanted not only At 2.03m/6-8 all of the original 13 the event victory and the gold coin it seeded jumpers remained. At 2.06m/6-9 brings, but to erase Michael Smith’s meet 11 remained, at 2.09m/6-10¼ nine were record of 17.45m/57-3, set by the still around, an at 2.12m/6-11½ six Canadian in1997. jumpers still remained. The most Maurice Smith, a former impressive were Clay, who started at NCAA champ from Auburn, won the Götzis 1.91m/6-3½, jumping at every bar and shot with the 2nd best toss cleared every bar on the first attempt thru in history, 17.25m/56-7¼. Only Canadian Michael 2.09m/6-10¼ , a PR., and the springy Smith has recorded a Krauchanka who legged over 2.12m/6- superior mark. 11½ on his initial attempt. Bryan bailed on his initial try at 2.12m/6-11½ and the second was reasonably close. His 3rd was also reasonable close. In round one Bryan Clay stepped When the bar went to 2.15m7-½ out for a no mark and Smith, throwing last just Krauchanka, and an pair of bulky in the order, calmly pumped a 17.25m/56- Russian Alekseys, Drovdov and Sysoyev, 7¼ toss that temporarily woke up a remained. The blond and red clad Syosoyev lethargic crowd. nd In round two Bryan got a was clear on his 2 effort as was the 15.30m/5-2½ toss and Dmitri Karpov Belarussian, using his standard 7 step followed with a 16.26m/53-4 effort. approach. Smith’s 2nd throw landed past 17.50m but The bar went to 2.18m/7-1¾ he stepped over the toe-board. Round Krauchanka was already celebrating on three was singularly uneventful. Bryan his second try when the bar toppled off. took a foot fault when his effort landed In Group B (lower seeded) the around 14.50m. Karpov’s 3rd effort jumping was just as good. The young brought rain but no better distance and German Abele and the ageless Dvorak Smith, trying too hard fouled to end the shared the win at 2.00m/6-6¾. event. After Four: Clay 3704, Krau 3623, Sebr In Group B Josef Karas had the 3570…….Karp 3498 winning effort., 14.34m/47-½. For Clay, 400 Meters: [5:55 - 6:05 pm] withhis best deca 100 and 2nd best deca In section one Switzerland’s David long jumpo and a solid shot mark, things Frolich and Dvorak dueld down the were looking up. stretch with the younger the victor by a After Three: Clay 2817, Sebr 2683,Krau step in 49.92. In section Two Claston 2679……. Karp 2611. Bernard was out very fast and had the High Jump: [3:25 - 5:20 pm] stagger made up on the field at 200m. he paid the price in the final 60m, fading 4528 Krauchanka, Andrei/BLR10.86+0.2 badly as Latvian Janis Karlivans raced 790+0.9 1389 215 47.46 4419 Sebrle, Roman/CZE 11.10-0.5 past for a 49.10 with. Claston was caught 784+1.7 1558 209 49.27 in 50.37. 4390 Karpov, Dmitri/KAZ 10.92-0.5 In section three Krauchanka was 722+1.8 1626 209 48.36 still feeling zippy and he ran way and hid 4381 Smith, Maurice/JAM 10.71-0.5 in 47.46.