BEIJING (AP) – Ashton Eaton is closing in on another decathlon world title, and keeping the world record in sight, too.
The American finished just behind his closest rival, Damian Warner of Canada, on Saturday in the 110-meter hurdles before a sizable discus throw brought him within 13 points of his world-record pace.
The pole vault, javelin and 1,500 meters close out the two-day competition later Saturday. Eaton, who has 6,451 points, leads Warner by 131.
On a road just outside the Bird’s Nest, Matej Toth of Slovakia won the longest event at the championships, taking gold in the 50-kilometer walk in 3 hours, 40 minutes, 32 seconds. More than a minute later, Jared Tallent of Australia continued to specialize in silver, adding another to his two Olympic runner-up places.
Takayuki Tanii took bronze for Japan’s first medal at the championships.