Doha (AFP)

After a less comfortable day, favorite Kevin Mayer is well placed (3rd) but remains under threat from Canadian Damian Warner, lead, and knee creaks at the half-time decathlon Doha World Championships (Qatar).

The stadium rings hollow Wednesday in Doha: the Kenyan and Ethiopian communities are not there for lack of hardships. The British Asher-Smith is crowned over 200 m as expected with the absence of many cadors (Ta Lou, Thompson, Fraser-Pryce, Schippers, Miller-Uibo ...). In short, it lacks noise, life and emotions.

It may be because Kevin Mayer has all attracted and condensed emotions. Sometimes possessed after two bars crossed at the height of the third test (1.96 m and 1.99 m), sometimes collapsed after his third failure at 2.02 m, writhing in pain on the carpet holding this cursed right knee who has been bothering him for years.

"I was scared after the height, I rested 20 minutes and getting up before the 400 m (48.99) I had a little trouble walking, but hey it's an experience", tempered the tenant title in mixed zone.

After a record 100m (10.50) - not a good race according to him however - Mayer struggled to find the right carburettor.

"I struggled to find my bearings in the stadium Normally the decathlons start early in the day in the day and end in the evening, here I waited all day long and then we went through the restless trials. Difficult conditions but you have to know how to adapt.This was more in the control than in the usual pleasure.

- "Please me" -

With a good shot put (16.82m), the vice-Olympic champion totals 4,483 points and is third behind the two Canadians Damian Warner (4,515 points) and Pierce Lepage (4,486 points).

The world record holder is at a distance from the lap times of his reference decathlon made in September 2018 in Talence (he had then 4,563 points and had realized exactly the same total the next day to bring the best global mark to 9,126 points). But there is no worries for the rest of the program Thursday (110 m hurdles, record, pole, javelin, 1,500 m) which is a priori more favorable than Canadians, excellent runners but less complete than the Montpellier.

"I can not wait to see you tomorrow on events where I'm better off, I have not jumped up to the challenge this year (due to his recurring problems in his right knee), so the day that scared me the most. "

"We know that if my opponents do not take a lot of lead in the first day it's hard for them the next day, if I do what I know how to do normally there should be no problem, but the guys are there. there is adversity and you should not underestimate them ".

"Tomorrow's goal is to please me!" And stay on that emotion, his favorite.

© 2019 AFP