Clay boosts decathlon lead after eight events

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — American Brian Clay stretched his lead in the Olympic decathlon Friday to 316 points after eight events, making the 2004 runner-up a heavy favorite to win gold following two last events Friday night.

Clay, the 2005 world champion, was second overall in the 110-meter hurdles in 13.93 seconds for 984 points, then won the discus with a throw of 53.79m for 950 more and cleared 5.00m in the pole vault for 910 points.

That left Clay on 7,365 total points with only the javelin and 1,500m to come in the two-day, 10-discipline competition that began Thursday with the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m.

"I started the day pretty tired, as everybody does," Clay said. "My first race went okay. I didn't fall and I had an okay time so I will...