Defending champ Trey Hardee out of decathlon after no-height at World Athletics Championships
The Olympic silver medalist missed all three attempts at 6 feet. Entering the high jump, he was fifth after three events. It wasn't clear if he had been injured or if he'll continue the competition.
Two-time defending decathlon champion Trey Hardee of the United States dropped out of the world championships with a hamstring injury Saturday after failing to clear a height in the high jump.
The Olympic silver medalist missed all three attempts at 1.90 meters after getting cramps in his left leg, which he uses for taking off.
He was sitting fifth after three events and needed a good performance in the high jump to stay in medal contention.
"It was just one of those things, landed on the pit after my second attempt, my hamstring was grabbing," Hardee said. "I laid there and tried to keep it from cramping up. The third (attempt) came around way too quick.
"I could jog fine, thought, this will be OK. I was trying to summon some energy, trotted down and it wasn't letting me run. The more open my gait became, the more I used it, the more it wanted to stop and cramp up."
Hardee, who was seeking to become the third man to win three straight decathlon world titles, said he had been easily clearing 1.90 in warm-ups.
"It wasn't a bar or anything, just my body was like, nope, it's not going to happen today. Just one of those things," he said.
Hardee said he already had a bad run in the long jump.
"The long jump was one we thought we had an ace in the hole there and pop a big one. Whatever reason, today, my body wasn't reacting," said Hardee, who has been troubled by an Achilles tendon problem this season.
Hardee did not complete the decathlon at the U.S. nationals but qualified for the worlds as defending champion.
"The last month of training, it couldn't have gone any better," Hardee said. "Just one of those things. I woke up this morning and my body was like, 'No.'"