In a gutsy performance, former Humboldt resident Brianne Theisen-Eaton captured the silver medal in heptathlon at the World Track and Field Championships last weekend.
The daughter of Calvin and Kimberly Theisen had to overcome an uneven first day and then an injury on day two to earn her second consecutive silver at the World Championships. At the Beijing event, 2012 Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain won her second world title in six years with a score of 6,669 points. Theisen-Eaton finished 115 point behind.
“I’m happy with how it turned out, at the beginning if you told me I would get the silver I would have been upset, I went to bed in tears after the first day, trying to figure out what was going on,” Theisen-Eaton, 26, was quoted as saying on Athletics Canada website. “Now I’m relieved, I’m exhausted and I’m happy, you have to take something from every situation, maybe this will be more valuable than the gold in the long run, going into Rio (the 2016 Summer Olympic Games). I’m thinking positively and that’s the key.”
While Ennis-Hill captivated the track and field world by winning after giving birth 13 months ago, Theisen-Eaton impressed with her heart and perseverance. She suffered a painful injury in her groin/abdominal area while warming up for the javelin – the sixth of the hepatahlon’s seven events.
“When I walked out there for the javelin I knew something wasn’t right with my groin,” Theisen-Eaton said. “My coach (Harry Mara) asked me if I could get one throw in, and I did.”
After feeling the pain on her first javelin attempt, she pulled up on her second and passed on her third. At that point in time, the former University of Oregon competitor was unsure if she would run the 800 metres, which is the final event of the heptahlon. She talked it over with her coaches and her husband, defending Olympic decathlete champ Ashton Eaton of the United States.
“I was in tears again, a lot of tears these last two days. Ashton said get on the line (for the 800m) and just see how it feels.”
Theisen-Eaton entered the final event sitting in third place. She needed a solid showing to maintain a spot on the podium. Instead of just trying to run for a solid finish, Theisen-Eaton went for it. She took the lead early and made Ennis-Hill – who she would have had to beat by six seconds for gold – work hard.
Theisen-Eaton completed 200 metres in 30.11 and 400 in 62.83. Ennis-Hill eventually passed her on the home stretch to finish in 2:10.13. Theisen-Eaton finished in 2:11.52 to leave convincingly earn the silver medal.
Entering the world championships, Theisen-Eaton was ranked No. 1 in the world. After the opening day’s four events, she sat in fourth place. Theisen-Eaton did not have her best day in high jump and the 200 metres. The first day’s events also include the 100 metre hurdles and shot put.
In the opening event of day two, Theisen-Eaton quickly made up ground. She jumped 6.55 metres in the long jump to place her second in Group B. This put her second overall heading into the final two events.
