But it was Eaton who deserved top billing, after the American dipped under his world mark to post a two-day total of 9,045 points.
Eaton (Bend, Oregon) needed to run 4:18.25 to break his world record.
BEIJING (AP) – This was going to hurt.
A little over 20 minutes later, however, it looked like American Justin Gatlin might just get one over his Beijing nemesis Bolt. He reached the final straightaway and pumped his arms harder, began shaking his head from side to side and gritted his teeth.
Eaton said it all had to do with the mental strength and inner drive that is demanded by the rigorous decathlon. It caught him by surprise, and it ended up providing the thin cushion he needed to beat his world record by six points.
“I don’t know what happened”, Rodgers said.
Allyson Felix ran a strong second leg to help the Americans win the next heat in 42.00, the second-fastest qualifying time.
Eaton will have to wait until 2017 to try and become just the third man in history after USA’s Dan O’Brien (1991, ’93 and ’95) and the Czech Republic’s Tomáš Dvořák (1997, ’99 and 2001) to win three world championship titles.
In Beijing on Saturday night he won the 100m relay gold with the Jamaican team.At least no one ran anyone over on a Segway this time.
“I tried to use the Algerian guy to push me at the 1500m – every time he sped up, I tried to keep up with him”.
But even the anticipation of more Bolt fireworks took a back seat as iron man Eaton retained his world title in style after wringing every last drop of energy from his shattered body. Britain’s Mo Farah overtook Caleb Ndiku of Kenya in a thrilling sprint down the final 50 meters to defend his title. The runners ending up the occasion rigorously prevented stepping on him. “I don’t know, but the important thing is to search for it because it may be there anyway”. Especially when he’s in this kind of shape.
Russia’s Olympic and 2011 world champion Anna Chicherova finished with bronze. 68 seconds. He also ran the 100 meters in a championship-record 10.23 seconds.
This was Hill’s second race at a world championships, and the Bowerman Track Club runner said he had hoped for a little more. What really did the trick was the javelin. “I might see it in his eyes. He knew”.
Heading into the 1,500, the decathlon’s final event, Warner set a target of 8,700 points. He leaned against it for support.
Francis will conclude the Championships for the Ducks when she is expected to take to the track on a leg of the United States’ 4×400 meter relay squad at 5:05 a.m. PT Sunday. He leads Damian Warner of Canada by 256 points.
He’s taking some of the credit, too. Warner gave Eaton some of his pasta before the 1,500.
“I think from tomorrow on I will start preparing for the Olympic Games in Rio”.
Eaton shot back: “Yeah, but my breath smells like onions so…”
A small worth to pay. But I have a lot of people who believe in me though, my wife, my family, and they said you can do this.
“You know (with) the world record thing I was just trying to have fun”. The second day is when you’re a decathlete.
Could he possibly break the world record again in 2016, or beyond?
“I didn’t realise it until I got here, how much running the hurdles benefited me”, he said.