The women’s heptathlon came down to the final event, the 800 meters. In that event, the medals were still up for grabs. Brianne Theisen-Eaton could gain the gold medal if she beat Ganna Melichenko by 4.5 seconds or more. Katerina Johnson-Thompson had to beat Daphe Schippers by three seconds!
The third section of the heptathlon 800 meters added on to the exciting two day battle that heptathletes had in Moscow, on August 12-13, 2013.
Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Heptathlon 800 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net
The heptathlon is seven events over two days. On day one, the 100 meter hurdles, the high jump, the shot put and the 200 meters. On day two, the heptathletes endure the long jump, the javelin throw and finish with the 800 meters.
How good was the competition? Six of the top seven scored personal bests and there were two national records!
Ganna Melnickenko scored 6586, a personal best, to win the heptathlon for the Ukraine. Brianne Theisen-Eaton took the silver with a score of 6530, her personal best. Daphe Schippers, set a NR for the Netherlands with her score of 6,477. Claudia Rath of Germany was fourth in 6,462, again, her personal best. In fifth, Katerina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain, scored 6,449. Sharon Day of the US, was sixth in 6407.
Theisen, Melichenko, Schippers, photo by PhotoRun.net
