ATHLETICS: Australian Cedric Dubler is in 12th position after Day 1 of the decathlon but there was despair for our men’s javelin duo who missed a place in the final at Rio’s Olympic Stadium.
The first Australian to contest the decathlon since Scott Ferrier at the Sydney 2000 Games, Dubler finished the first day of competition on 4219 points.
Gold medal favourite, Ashton Eaton of the USA, leads on 4621.
The decathlon is one of track and field’s most challenging events.
Comprising 10 events over two days, it is a demanding test of endurance, power and speed to crown the best overall male track and field athlete in the world.
No Australian has ever won an Olympic medal in the decathlon. Our best result was at the 1948 London Olympics, when Peter Mullins finished sixth.
In the morning session of the men’s decathlon, Cedric Dubler placed fourth in his heat of the 100m, running 10.86 (892 points) while he recorded a leap of 7.47m in the long jump (927 points), which was his top-scoring performance of the day.
Tonight, in the shot put, Dubler recorded a mark of 11.49m (575 points) while, in the high jump Dubler cleared 2.13m (925 points) and in the 400m he clocked a personal best time of 48.18 (900 points).
“It took a while to get going,” Dubler said.
“The first few events were just off where I wanted but I came out this afternoon after resting during the day, and getting a massage and sort of resetting the mind, to do some really good results that I’m proud of.”
Tomorrow Dubler will contest the 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1500m.
In the men's javelin, 30-year-old Olympic debutant Josh Robinson came within one place of reaching the final.
The Queenslander, who spent time sleeping on his mate’s floor to save costs while he pursued his Olympic dream, was in sixth place after his qualifying group following a best throw of 80.84m.
With the top 12 qualifying for the final, Robinson faced a nervous wait as the second group competed and he fell just short, finishing 13th.
Fellow Aussie Hamish Peacock finished 25th with a best throw of 77.91.
While disappointed to miss the final, Robinson was jubilant to have finally realised his dream of becoming an Olympian.
“To be out there in the middle of the stadium is just a dream come true,” Robinson said.
“It’s been 17 years for me of slogging away for this hour and a half.”
David Taylor
olympics.com.au
