Monday, October 30th, 2023.- The ultimate test of an athlete is the decathlon, where athletes must demonstrate their skills in 10 events. In Santiago 2023, this traditional discipline had its first day on Monday at the Estadio Nacional, featuring the first five events.

At the end of the day, the American Samuel Black leads with 4,160 points, surpassing the Chilean-Cuban Santiago Ford (4,084) and the Dominican José Miguel Paulino (4,061).

Following the non-appearance of Bahamian Kendrick Thompson and Salvadoran Esteban Ibáñez, the competition is contested by 10 athletes.

Black didn't need to be the best in any of the events to finish the day on top. His best performances came in shot put (14.65 meters) and high jump (2.04), but he remained consistent in the others, always among the top four.

Ford, on the other hand, excelled in the long jump (7.48 meters) and high jump (2.04), and also finished third in the shot put (14.01). In the 100 meters, he only finished seventh, a position he repeated in the 400 meters (50.91 seconds).

Paulino, meanwhile, was the best in the long jump (7.54) and second in the 400 meters (49.70 seconds).

The decathlon concludes on Tuesday with the following five events: 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 meters.

Written by Felipe Hurtado H; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
Photo by Dante Fernandez / Santiago 2023 via Photosport