SYDNEY -
DECATHLETE Claston Bernard, Jamaica's first entry in the multi-event discipline at the Olympics, literally threw away a big chance to make an impact in the Sydney Stadium yesterday.
Sitting pretty on 908 points after the 100 metres, Bernard fouled his three attempts in the next event, the long jump, and failed to score a point.
The 21-year-old Louisiana State University student rallied back strongly in the shot put and high jump events later in the day but at this, or any other level, it is impossible to come back after a no-score.
Bernard thus ended the day at the bottom of the heap with 3329 points after five events. Even an average jump of close to 6.60m would have carried him past 4,000 and in contention to maybe make the top ten.
He was terribly disappointed after closing with 49.77 for fifth in heat one of the decathlon 400 metres.
"I can't really blame anyone but during the warm up I did not have anyone to mark my run for the long jump. I tried to hang in there to put a mark on the board but it didn't happen," an exhausted Bernard said after the 400 metres.
American Chris Huffins leads the decathlon after the first day with 4,554 points from Briton Dean Macy on 4546. The 110 metres hurdles, discus, pole vault, Javelin and 1,500 metres are down for the second day of the event. Bernard is fairly strong in the hurdles, discus and javelin and should score well.
- Elton Tucker
