Volume XXXII Number 26 October, 2007 KRAUCHANKA TOPS at DECASTAR Terek 5th in IAAF CE Challenge Hello Again….Well, the 2007 decathlon this in Gotzis next May when I next see season is in the books. And, if the books Andrei. tell us anything, it is that things got Krauchanka won the year’s final crowded at the top. The international Big Three for the past three seasons –Roman Sebrle/CZE, Bryan Clay/USA and Dmitry Karpov/KAZ—were joined by a pair of newcomers and one returning veteran. The most surprising new star was BelaRussian Andrei Krauchanka, a 21 year old springboard who won both Gotzis and Talence meetings but false started twice in the Osaka (IAAF World Champs) 100m and was disqualified. He was joined by 26 year old Auburn U grad Maurice Smith/JAM, who ran up big scores for runner-up spots in Talence and Osaka, and who also captured the Pan American title. And 2003 IAAF world champ Tom Pappas captured another USA Andrei Krauchanka/BLR improved hi vault PR to 5.15m/ 16-10 ¾ on the way to a win at DecaStar in Talence title, but injuries plagued him in Osaka. When one throws Krauchanka, Smith and international decathlon, DecaStar in Pappas into the mix with Sebrle, Clay and Talance France in late September, in an Karpov, any forecast for 2008 is attempt to redeem himself for the pair of hazardous. false starts in Osaka. His 8553 was 255 A word about the BleaRussian’s points better than Smith. Roman Sebrle “identity crises.” We continue to use the contested Talence to guarantee him the spelling “Krauchanka”, which is also IAAF Combined Events Challenge win preferred by IAAF World champs site, (and $30,000). He was 4th in France with Gotizis and by international decathlon 8067. Krauchanka, Bryan Clay, Tom record keeper Hans van Kuijen. The Pappas and Dmitry Karpov did not alternative “Kravchenko” has been used start/finish the 3 required meets for a by Talence and IAAF web site. I’ll settle ranking. Only 17 men worldwide did. The outcome is based on results from major, U Tube--- IAAF approved meets. The pleasant 1975 Pan American Games surprise was the return of Paul Terek to Finally, here’s a suggestion for decathlon elite status during the season. The 27 year history buffs. old won the MultiStar meet in Desanzano, nd finished 2 at USA nationals and placed th 10 at the World Champs. His trio of 8000+ scores gave him an 8106 average th score and 5 place and $8,000. Final 2007 Stamdings YouTube has the complete video of the 1. Roman Sebrle/CZE $30,000 1975 Pan American Games decathlon (in [25,261 pts, ave =8420+] Mexico City) duel between Bruce Jenner 2. Maurice Smith/JAM 20,000 and Fred Dixon. It is MC’d by Hall of [25,220 pts, ave = 8406] Famer Bill Toomey. Click on 3. Aleksey Drozdov/RUS 15,000 www.youtube.com, do a search for Bruce [24,972 pts; ave= 8324] Jenner, and scroll to “America’s man, 4. Romain Barras/FRA 10,000 Bruce Jenner, Day 1.” Then to “Day 2.” It [24,473 pts; ave=8157+] might be 30 years old but I had never seen 5. Paul Terek/USA 8,000 this and the quality of the performances [24,318 pts; ave= 8106] and presentation is terrific. 6. Han van Alphen/BEL 7,000 [24,011 pts; ave= 8003+] ------------------------- 7. Jacob Minah/GER 6,000 Results from DECASTAR [23,856 pts; ave= 7952] 8. Norman Muller/GER 5,000 9/22-23 DecaStar, Talence, FRA [23,843 pts; ave= 7947+] 8553 Krauchanka, Andrei/BLR 10.98+0.2 773+0.8 1400 213 47.17 14.08-1.1 4408 515 6408 4:48.99 8298 Smith, Maurice/JAM 10.89+0.2 708 Past Winners of IAAF World 0.0 1672 198 48.07 14.01-1.1 5383 455 5136 Combined Events Challenge 4:39.17 2006 Dimitry Karpov KAZ 8124 Drozdov, A;elsey/RUS 11.04+0.4 735 2005 Roman Sebrle CZE 0.0 1611 201 51.28 15.17-0.2 4845 495 6203 2004 Roman Sebrle CZE 4:50.39 8067 Sebrle, Roman/CZE 11.24+0.2 737 2003 Tom Pappas USA 0.0 1571 204 50.13 14.86-1.1 4260 485 6344 2002 Roman Sebrle CZE 4:47.53 2001 Tomas Dvorak CZE 7813 Felix, Agustin/ESP, 7775 2000 Erki Nool EST Bourguignon, Rudy/FRA, 7517 Gervasi, 1999 Tomas Dvorak CZE David/SUI, 7050 Gouacide, Wilfred/FRA, 12s,10f. 1998 Erki Nool EST -------------------------------------- ------------------- .