A Canadian is in the hunt for a world decathlon title 鈥� but it鈥檚 not Olympic champion Damian Warner.
Pierce LePage, a 26-year-old from Whitby, Ont., was the leader after eight of 10 events on Sunday, moving up from fifth place into the lead with personal bests in the 400 metres, 110-metre hurdles and discus.
The javelin and the 1,500, both scheduled for Sunday evening, are the final two events.
Warner had led the field through the first four events of Day 1, but his quest for a first world decathlon title ended with a hamstring injury in the 400 metres.
LePage has flirted with the podium numerous times, finishing fifth at both the Tokyo Olympics and 2019 world championships in Doha.
Earlier Sunday, Olympic bronze medallist Evan Dunfee was sixth in the 35-kilometre race walk. And while Dunfee said he loves climbing medal podiums, after battling both a hamstring injury and mental health issues this season, the 31-year-old from Richmond, B.C., was pleased with race.
鈥淭o come away with sixth after the year it鈥檚 been 鈥� it鈥檚 been a struggle for me this year, it鈥檚 been physically and emotionally and mentally a little bit tough,鈥� Dunfee said. 鈥淪o to get sixth, I鈥檓 thrilled with this, and to have my family and friends out here on the sidelines cheering me on, that was awesome.鈥�
Dunfee, who sat around 12th place for much of the race before moving up through the final few kilometres, crossed in two hours 25 minutes two seconds.
Italy鈥檚 Massimo Stano took the gold in 2:23.14. Japan鈥檚 Masatora Kawano was second in 2:23.15, while Sweden鈥檚 Perseus Kalstrom won the bronze (2:23.44).
Dunfee captured bronze both at last summer鈥檚 Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 world championships in Doha.
鈥淚 got used to the podium,鈥� Dunfee said with a laugh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always disappointing to not be on there. Not disappointing, disappointing鈥檚 the wrong word. But, it鈥檚 something that, as much as I told myself 鈥� and I am really proud of this race 鈥� but you鈥檙e still like, ah, that podium鈥檚 fun to stand on.
鈥淏ut no, I think today was a really good race.鈥�
Dunfee鈥檚 two global medals came at 50 kilometres, a distance that has been eliminated from the international program, despite tireless lobbying from Dunfee and others.
鈥淭he athlete voice, it can only go so far, I guess,鈥� Dunfee said. 鈥淚鈥檒l forever defend the value of the 50k.
鈥淏ut yeah, for where my body鈥檚 been at or how much of a struggle this year has been, I can鈥檛 be unhappy with that performance 鈥� if you told me yesterday I鈥檇 come sixth, I鈥檇 probably been pretty happy with that, so I鈥檒l take it.鈥�
The Canadian Press
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