ISTANBUL -- Bend native Ashton Eaton set his third heptathlon world record in as many years to win gold Saturday at the world indoor championships, and Justin Gatlin highlighted an all-American day by taking the 60-meter dash. Eaton dominated the two-day competition from start to finish and capped it with an overwhelming 1,000 meters in the concluding event to break the record he set last year with a total of 6,645 points. The old mark was 6,568 points. Eaton led throughout the seven-event discipline. From early on, he was ahead of record pace, too. "I was good, fit and healthy, and if all things went well I knew I would be able to do it," said Eaton, who will likely be competing for decathlon gold at the London Olympics in August. "If I keep training, the way I am making improvements, it should be a good outdoor season." Eaton raced into the lead when the competition began Friday, setting a personal best of 8.16 meters in the long jump. He also won the 60 meters, 60-meter hurdles and the pole vault, making up for third-place finishes in the shot put and high jump. And there was no stopping him in the 1,000 as he knew another world record was on the line. "Every 200 meters, I would look at the clock and I was thinking, 'Geez, I'm kind of falling off pace. Pick it up. Pick it up. It's hard when you're running by yourself," Eaton said. "You don't have that person to chase. But I was chasing a record." Despite his record-setting form, it was his first world title. "I will now be preparing for the Olympic trials, which you know are very competitive in the U.S.," Eaton said. http://www.ktvz.com/sports/30653820/detail.html
6645 points, impressive. Being an expert on the heptathlon, I doubt I could do even 5000 points. I can't even afford 49.99.
