TNT Sports
Stage set for struggle
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Published 06/08/2005 at 19:53 GMT+1
France's Eunice Barber leads defending world champion Carolina Kluft after four events of the heptathlon competition in Helsinki on Saturday. "I had a good and bad day," said Kluft, who twisted her left ankle after falling awkwardly in vaulting a hurdle i
Eurosport
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"I'm not disappointed [at not leading], I'm just trying my best."
Barber is on 3,973 points, with Kluft on 3,971 and Great Britain's Kelly Sotherton in third place.
"It's going to be a big, big show tomorrow," said Barber, the 1999 world champion.
"The first day is always delicate for me. Tomorrow, I have to jump well, throw well and run well. My nerves are under control and I'm going to stay focused."
The 30-year-old Barber ran a season's best of 12.94 seconds in the hurdles and followed up by equaling her 2005 best in the high jump with a 1.91-metre leap.
Kluft failed with three attempts at 1.85 metres in the high jump and had to be content with 1.82. The Swede bounced back, however, recording a lifetime best of 15.02 metres in the shot put.
Her effort sailed 25 centimetres further than her previous mark of 14.77, which she set on the way to the gold medal in Athens last year.
Barber, not to be outdone, weighed in with another season's best in her least favourite event. Her lead of 32 was cut down to two points in the last event of the day, Kluft clocking 23.70 to Barber's 24.01 in the 200 metres.
The final three events: long jump, javelin and 800 metres take place on Sunday.
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