Post by Taxigirl on Aug 21, 2004 10:17:23 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3582214.stm
Sweden's Carolina Kluft dominated the first day of the heptathlon with a succession of brilliant performances.
Britain's Kelly Sotherton lies in second place, but defending champion Denise Lewis is struggling in ninth after suffering from cramp.
World and European champion Kluft threw a personal best in the shot put after a high jump of 1.91m to confirm her status as hot favourite.
Kluft said: "I'm very satisfied, but I need to do some good events tomorrow."
Sotherton equalled her lifetime best in both the high jump and 200m and still has her best event, the long jump, to come on Saturday.
She said: "I was disappointed with the 200m, it was difficult in lane eight and I had only 20 minutes preparation which wasn't the best.
"I might have done better in another lane.
"But I can't complain, as I am 140 points up on my personal best over the day. As for my medal chances, we shall see tomorrow."
Lewis was undone by a poor high jump, clearing a below-par 1.73m to trail on 1,956 points with five events left.
The 31-year-old Sydney champion had started well, clocking a season's best of 13.40 seconds in the 100m hurdles.
Sotherton, in contrast, was disappointed with her respectable opening time of 13.44 secs, having clipped a hurdle.
She bounced straight back in an exciting jumping duel with Holland's Karin Ruckstuhl, both women hit new heights to boost their overall scores to 2100.
Kluft, meanwhile, showed no sign of weakness in either event, finishing the hurdles in 13.21 secs before storming the high jump.
American Michelle Perry had led on 1164 points after the first component with a time of 12.74 seconds.
Sweden's Carolina Kluft dominated the first day of the heptathlon with a succession of brilliant performances.
Britain's Kelly Sotherton lies in second place, but defending champion Denise Lewis is struggling in ninth after suffering from cramp.
World and European champion Kluft threw a personal best in the shot put after a high jump of 1.91m to confirm her status as hot favourite.
Kluft said: "I'm very satisfied, but I need to do some good events tomorrow."
Sotherton equalled her lifetime best in both the high jump and 200m and still has her best event, the long jump, to come on Saturday.
She said: "I was disappointed with the 200m, it was difficult in lane eight and I had only 20 minutes preparation which wasn't the best.
"I might have done better in another lane.
"But I can't complain, as I am 140 points up on my personal best over the day. As for my medal chances, we shall see tomorrow."
Lewis was undone by a poor high jump, clearing a below-par 1.73m to trail on 1,956 points with five events left.
The 31-year-old Sydney champion had started well, clocking a season's best of 13.40 seconds in the 100m hurdles.
Sotherton, in contrast, was disappointed with her respectable opening time of 13.44 secs, having clipped a hurdle.
She bounced straight back in an exciting jumping duel with Holland's Karin Ruckstuhl, both women hit new heights to boost their overall scores to 2100.
Kluft, meanwhile, showed no sign of weakness in either event, finishing the hurdles in 13.21 secs before storming the high jump.
American Michelle Perry had led on 1164 points after the first component with a time of 12.74 seconds.