Hall Breaks 7000, Skotheim Sets Norwegian Record at Hypo Meeting Götzis
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Anna Hall and Sander Skotheim delivered unforgettable performances on the final day of the 50th Hypo Meeting in Götzis, each claiming victory with world-leading scores and national records. Hall soared to second on the all-time heptathlon list with a sensational 7032 points, while Skotheim broke the meeting record with a career-best 8909 in the decathlon, reclaiming the Norwegian record. Their triumphs capped a weekend of thrilling battles, personal bests, and emotional redemption at the iconic Mösle Stadium.
Women’s Heptathlon:
Anna Hall sealed her second Hypo Meeting title with a spectacular world lead and meeting record of 7032 points, climbing to second place on the world all-time list. The 23-year-old American set personal bests in the high jump, shot put, javelin, and 800 metres, finishing 456 points ahead of Dutch star Sofie Dokter, who improved her lifetime best to 6576 points.
In the long jump, Annik Kälin opened with 6.73m, then improved to 6.77m, solidifying her position in second place. Hall responded with a seasonal best of 6.44m, maintaining her lead at 5149 points. Dokter and Abigail Pawlett both leapt to 6.42m, while Colombia’s Martha Araujo jumped a PB of 6.63m, moving into fifth.
Hall extended her lead in the javelin with a new PB of 46.16m, bringing her total to 5935 points, 307 ahead of Kälin (39.88m). Dokter’s 41.75m placed her just four points behind Kälin. Araujo, second best in the event with 49.42m, climbed to fourth. Tori West topped the javelin rankings with 50.48m.
Needing 2:03.33 in the 800m to break 7000 points, Hall delivered a jaw-dropping 2:01.24, the fastest ever run within a heptathlon. Her final tally of 7032 points broke the meeting record set by Nafissatou Thiam (7013) and matched the second-best mark in history held by Carolina Klüft, trailing only Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s 1988 world record (7291).
“This performance is a dream come true. I was tired but focused. The last heptathlon broke my heart after finishing fifth at the Olympics. This healed it,” said Hall.
“Breaking the record on the 50th anniversary, with past legends here encouraging me, makes it all the more special.”
Dokter clocked 2:10.88 to secure second overall. Araujo’s 2:15.89 brought her to third with a South American record of 6475 points. Michelle Atherley’s impressive 2:05.81 moved her from eighth to fourth with 6425. Kälin placed fifth with 6395, while Allie Jones (2:07.94) set a PB of 6367 in sixth.
Men’s Decathlon:
Sander Skotheim clinched his first Hypo Meeting title with a world-leading and Norwegian record of 8909 points, smashing the previous meeting record and elevating himself to equal seventh on the world all-time list. It was the third-best score ever recorded in Götzis, behind only Roman Šebrle and Ashton Eaton.
Simon Ehammer, runner-up after Day 1, opened Day 2 with a blazing 13.57 in the 110m hurdles, ahead of Damian Warner (13.76). Skotheim clocked 14.12, while Owens Delerme ran 14.09, allowing Ehammer to briefly lead with 5651 points.
In the discus, both Karel Tilga and Leo Neugebauer threw 51.47m, with Tilga winning on countback. Skotheim’s 49.18m moved him into the lead with 6423 points, while Garland’s PB of 49.10m kept him close in second. Ehammer dropped to third after throwing 41.02m.
Neugebauer won the pole vault with 5.10m, ahead of Skotheim and Ehammer (also 5.10m). Garland cleared 4.90m. After nine events, Skotheim led with 8124, 119 points ahead of Garland.
In the javelin, Tilga threw 69.59m, but it was Nicklas Kaul who stole the spotlight with a winning mark of 72.13m, surging into the top five. Skotheim threw 61.46m, holding the lead with 8124, while Garland’s 58.77m secured second (8005).
Jeff Tesselaar set a meeting record in the 1500m with 4:08.31. Kaul won the second heat in 4:16.40, ahead of Skotheim (4:23.88) and Tilga (4:27.79).
“I was exhausted at the end, but it was amazing. I wanted to go over 8800, not 8900. I’m super happy, and the crowd gave us that extra 10 seconds in the 1500m,” said Skotheim.
Skotheim’s 8909 points broke Markus Rooth’s Olympic-winning national record (8796) and added the European indoor silver medallist’s name to decathlon history.
Garland finished second with 8626, while Ehammer equalled the Swiss record with 8575, sharing third with Kaul. Neugebauer placed fifth with 8555 in his Götzis debut. Warner, an eight-time winner in Götzis, ended sixth (8527), with Owens Delerme seventh (8486).
