Decastar meeting concludes with inspiring results – IAAF Combined Events Challenge: Athletics news
As per general practices, the Decastar meeting in Talence usually conclude the Combined Events meetings of the season. Following the tradition, this year as well, the Decaster meeting that was initiated back in 1976, concluded the IAAF Combined Events Challenge
contests.
While dwelling on the historical context of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge, it is worth sharing that the first such event was held back in 1998 and right from the day of its commencement, it is being regarded as an important athletics competition around
the globe.
In the Combined Events challenge, the standing of athletes for the series is measured by the score they earned in the top-three meets of the world. For instance, this year’s events that contributed towards the event included three prestigious events like
IAAF World Championships in Daegu, The European Cup finals and the Universiade in Shenzhen.
Besides these high-profile athletics events, results from contests like Desenzano, Kladno, Ratingen, Gotzis and USA National Championships have also been included for the ongoing year’s series.
Matter of fact, the number of outperforming athletes from all these events is quite large and organisers usually cannot allow everyone of them to mark their presence in the event. Thus, to limit the number of athletes, organisers of the event in Talence,
a town situated in the South West of France always go for the best of the lot that is finally allowed to become a part of prestigious events.
The small stadium ‘Stade de Thouars’ that hosts the event every year is usually over packed. A great number of spectators apply for the limited number of seats (5000 in total). This year, while marking the commencement of the event, organisers decided to
add some thrill to the event by allowing spectators to sit next to the runway.
With the opening of the event, about 15 players will take part in the Men’s Decathlon competitions while on Women’s side, there will be about 12 athletes for Heptathlon contests, with all of them belonging to 15 different countries.
Athletes who have to line-up for the Decastar meeting are announced well ahead of the commencement of the event, however, this year, the practice had to face a little variation. In the final moments of the event, it was announced that Leonel Suarez will
also be a part of the competition. The athlete is the bronze medallist of the World Championships held last month, and his participation in the event will certainly add up to the thrill of the event.
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