Warner in podium position after first day of decathlon at Rio 2016

After the first day of competition in the decathlon at Rio 2016, Damian Warner is in third place, 132 points behind reigning Olympic and world champion Ashton Eaton of the United States.

Warner actually got the jump on the world record holder in the day’s opening event, the 100m, running an Olympic decathlon best ever time of 10.30 seconds. Eaton was second in 10.46. That gave Warner 1023 points and a 38-point lead.

Damian Warner wins his 100m heat in the decathlon during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Damian Warner wins his 100m heat in the decathlon during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Next up was the long jump. While Warner leaped the third-longest distance, 7.67m for 977 points, Eaton took over the lead with his jump of 7.94m. After two events, Warner had 2000 points, putting him 30 points behind his rival.

Team Canada’s Damian Warner competes in long jump during the men’s decathlon at Olympic Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday August 17, 2016. (COC Photo/David Jackson)

Team Canada’s Damian Warner competes in long jump during the men’s decathlon at Olympic Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday August 17, 2016. COC Photo/David Jackson

The third event was the shot put, which wasn’t particularly strong for either of the frontrunners. Warner’s throw of 13.66m was only good for 23rd place while Eaton managed 14.73m for 10th place. But it didn’t cause either of them to drop in placement as Eaton retained the lead with 2803 points with Warner in second, 95 points behind.

Damian Warner competes in the high jump of the decathlon at Rio 2016 (COC/Jason Ransom)

Damian Warner competes in the high jump of the decathlon at Rio 2016 (COC/Jason Ransom)

The men started their evening session with the high jump. Eaton was only able to clear 2.01m, but Warner couldn’t capitalize much, only clearing 2.04m himself. Meanwhile another American, Jeremy Taiwo, jumped 2.19m to close the gap on the two leaders. At the end of the fourth event, Eaton led with 3616 points, Warner was second with 3548 points but Taiwo was just one point back.

Damian Warner competes in the decathlon at Rio 2016. August 17, 2016. (COC Photo/Jason Ransom)

Damian Warner competes in the decathlon at Rio 2016. August 17, 2016. (COC Photo/Jason Ransom)

The decathletes ended their night with the 400m. Eaton posted the fastest time, 46.07 seconds while Warner finished third in 47.35 seconds. In between was German Kai Kazmirek in 46.75 seconds. Combined with his high jump of 2.10m, he was able to leapfrog Warner.

At the end of day one, Eaton leads with 4621 points, Kazmirek is second with 4500 points while Warner sits in third with 4489 points.

On tomorrow’s schedule is the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, and javelin before the competition ends with the 1500m to crown the world’s greatest athlete.