Canadians win Hypo Meeting

GOETZIS, Austria — Canadian decathlete Damian Warner held on to his first-day lead to win the Hypo Meeting Sunday, while fellow Canadian Brianne Leading Kazmirek by just seven points after Saturday’s five events, Warner easily won the 110 hurdles in 13.72 seconds to extend his lead to 76. While the German dropped to third, Mayer reduced the gap in each of the following three events in difficult conditions due to wind and rain, which forced organizers to suspend the pole vault for half an hour. Warner finally secured victory by finishing ahead of the Frenchman in the concluding 1,500 meters. “It was important to win,” the world silver medalist said. “It was difficult but it was an important learning experience with a lot of ups and downs.” Theisen-Eaton won the women’s competition of the Hypo Meeting for a third time. After also triumphing in 2013 and last year, the world silver medalist gathered 6,765 points. Theisen-Eaton won one of the seven events — the long jump with a 6.56-meter effort — and remained 43 points short of her personal best mark she set while winning here last year. The Canadian finished 143 points clear of Laura Ikauniece-Admidina of Latvia. Carolin Schaefer of Germany was 208 points back in third after reaching her personal best score of 6,557, while 2014 winner Katerina Johnson-Thompson of Britain, who was second after the opening day, dropped to sixth with 6,304. Johnson-Thompson was relieved after booking her place at the Rio Games in August and says she is setting her sights on a first Olympic heptathlon gold medal. The 23-year-old accumulated the 6,200 points needed for Olympic qualification to join compatriot Jessica Ennis-Hill in the Rio lineup. Ivona Dadic set an Austrian record of 6,196 points but still remained four points short of the qualifying limit for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. — Agencies