Image: GEPA pictures
Well over 30 degrees, 90 percent humidity and the high expectations: Austria's heptathletes are now also challenged at the summer games in Tokyo. As much as Ivona Dadic and the third place in the World Cup, Verena Mayr, practiced recovering with cooling vests and fans between the first four competitions, it did not always succeed as desired. It was also noticeable that getting up early at five o'clock in the morning for the morning session was taking a toll.
Although Dadic, 27, coped better with the conditions than Mayr. After four competitions (200 meters, ball, high jump, 100 meter hurdles) she was eighth with 3800 points. Mayr was only 16. In the lead were surprisingly Anouk Vetter (NED) with 3968 points and Noor Vidts (Bel / 3941). Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam (Bel) followed with 3921.
Dadic, she drew a very satisfied interim balance sheet: “With the result, you can sleep well!” The personal highlight for her was the high jump, which was 1.83 meters. More than remarkable, she set her personal best in the open air. Her hurdles sprint (13.61) and the 200 m run (24.33) were also very promising. More was not possible, said coach Philipp Unfried: “She missed a few training sessions over 200 meters this year!”
“Must continue to give full throttle”
However, she had lost important points in the shot put (14.10 meters), she had more than half a meter. “I'm not thinking about points yet. I still have to go full throttle, the field is close together, ”Dadic did not want to get an overview or promise anything in the battle for the medals.
For Mayr, 26, things didn't go according to plan at all. After 13.65 seconds in the hurdles sprint (“I got my opponent's hand on it twice, that got me out”), 1.77 meters were included in the high jump. “I jumped in great, but then didn't make it at the point. It's a shame and annoying. ”Even in the shot put she fell short of expectations with 13.59 meters. “I am quite satisfied with the 200 meters, considering the training deficit,” she said over her 24.55 seconds. The disappointment with the overall performance could not be hidden. Two years ago she had won the bronze medal at the World Cup in Doha. now it's not even the top 10 anymore.
The long jump, javelin throw and the final with the 800-meter run followed on Thursday. (fi)
