In the 100 m sprint, he was 21st (11.27 sec), in the long jump – 22nd (6.90 m), in the shot put – 9th (14.85 m), in the high jump – 11th (1.93 m), and in the 400 m run he matched his best seasonal result – 22nd (50.29 sec).
25 men started the decathlon trials, but two fewer continue.
E. Benkunskas with 3912 points after the first day is in 20th place.
E. Benkunskas’s results in Birmingham:
100 m sprint: 11.27 sec. (SB – 11.19 sec., PB – 10.77 sec.).
Long jump: 6.90 m (SB – 7.06 m, PB – 7.32 m).
Shot put:14.85 m (SB – 15.66 m, PB – 16.00 m).
High jump: 1.93 m (SB – 2.00 m, PB – 2.10 m).
400 m run: 50.29 sec. (SB – 50.29 sec., PB – 49.73 sec.).
* SB – best result of this season, PB – personal best.
“Honestly, I can say – a bad day… I won’t lie, pretend, or look for any excuses,” began E. Benkunskas.
– I didn’t manage to perform as I probably wanted. My body felt normal. I just couldn’t perform and that’s it. I tried not to give up, to start fresh in each event, to try, but when it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work…
It all started with a false start, but it didn’t throw me off. We strategized with the coach that maybe I should try to catch the start? Because it’s kind of allowed. First event. I felt good at that moment and just tried. Of course, it didn’t work – I had to turn around and try again.”
“By the end of the day, it was already hard physically. Even more so emotionally. And that heat – completely unexpected. England is a rainy country, but neither today nor tomorrow is rain expected – only heat,” continued the Lithuanian, admitting he asked a colleague for sunscreen because he didn’t have any, and eventually ran with sunglasses on.
– I heard Gabija (Galvydytė) say it’s cool when no one sees you. Maybe that’s why? Sometimes I also like to wear this accessory. Hoping it adds speed (laughs).
It has nothing to do with the solar eclipse. I only found out about it from one of the decathletes when I asked if he had sunscreen because I didn’t bring any… At first, he thought I was joking because he was waiting for the eclipse (smiles).”
On Thursday, E. Benkunskas will try to make up in his main events – javelin throw, 110 m hurdles. However, he has already “burned” one of the main events.
“I was ninth in the shot put and that might seem like a good result, but for me it was probably the most painful performance of the day. Shot put is one of my strong points, so it was painful… Never mind, I swallowed it and kept fighting. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” shared E. Benkunskas.
– To be honest, now I’m only thinking about how to get into the ice bath as soon as possible. Then – to get back to the hotel quickly, have a snack and go to sleep, rest as much as possible. The more rest I get, the better it will be tomorrow. These are my thoughts for now. Tomorrow is a new day, so I will try to start it better than today.”
Understand instantly
This is E. Benkunskas’s second continental championship. In 2024 in Rome, he placed 15th (7882 points).
The athlete’s season best is 8080 points (July in Poland), and career best – 8098 (2024 in Austria).
The Lithuanian decathlon record has stood since 1988, when Rišardas Malachovskis scored 8437 points.
Leading is the world champion German Leo Neugebauer (4483).
European champion Estonian Johannes Erm is currently fifth (4282), other Estonians Karel Tilga (4190), Rasmus Roosleht (4184), and Risto Lillemets (4084) are respectively 10th, 11th, and 17th.
The remaining five decathlon events – 110 m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500 m run – await on Thursday. After them, E. Benkunskas’s final place will be revealed.
