Leo Neugebauer fell out of the medal ranks at the World Cup decathlon. After 110 meter hurdles and the discus throw, the 23-year-old ranked fourth in Budapest with 6341 points. Canadian Vice World Champion Pierce Lepage leads with 6505 points ahead of fellow countryman and Olympic champion Damian Warner, who has 6380 points. Third is Lindon Victor from Grenada with 6365 points.
“He’s like he’s been replaced. Yesterday he was so light and was rewarded with great performances from discipline to discipline. Now he seems paralyzed,” said ARD expert Frank Busemann, Olympic silver medalist in 1996.
The German record holder, Neugebauer, crossed the 110 meter hurdles in 14.75 seconds, well ahead of his best time. His discus landed at 47.63 meters and far behind the best of 55.06 meters.
In his World Championship debut, Manuel Eitel is eleventh after six disciplines with 5912 points. Former world champion and European champion Niklas Kaul dropped out of the competition early on Friday due to foot problems. The risk was “unacceptable” in the year before the Olympic Games in Paris, said the 25-year-old.
