Track and field: Bryan Clay, United States

BEIJING – Bryan Clay said his first day of Olympic decathlon competition was “just O.K,” but a strong start gave him the lead going into today’s final events.

The Honolulu native led the competition at the end of Thursday with 4,521 points, much of it based on his performances in the 100-meters, long jump and shot put.

Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus is in second place, 88 points behind Clay.

“I had three very, very good events, then a poor event, then just an OK event in the 400,” Clay said. “I think when you take into account conditions and the type of meet everyone else is having, I think I’m doing pretty good.”

Rainy conditions made the morning going tough when athletes had to sprint down a wet track in the 100 meters and deal with delayed starts in the long jump and shot put. But Clay won the 100 meters and long jump and made a personal-best shot put throw of 53 feet, 41/2 inches.

Cincinnati Enquirer