Multi-event athletes amongst World's best

We saw heptathlete Kelly Sotherton collect a Bronze medal in Athens and decathlete Dean Macey finish fourth (for the second Olympics running).

Form

In March 2006, Kelly Sotherton won Gold at the Commonwealth Games with new prospect Jessica Ennis claiming Bronze. Both faltered at the European Championship, with Southerton finishing seventh and Ennis eighth. Dean Macey had to withdraw from the European Championship due to an eleventh hour injury.

Name	Age	Event	2006 Rank	2006 Championship Performance	Career High (if different)
Dean Macey	28	Decathlon	NR	Gold in Commonwealth Games	2 x 4th in Olympic Games
Kelly Sotherton	29	Heptathlon	4	Gold in Commonwealth Games	Bronze in Olympic Games (2004)
Jessica Ennis	20	Heptathlon	10	Bronze in Commonwealth Games

Qualification

As yet, the qualification standards have not been decided for Beijing, but all three multi-event athletes on the World Class Podium programme should qualify for Beijing.

What to watch

Multi-event athletics is exiting to watch and, I would say that, they are certainly the best days to plan a full day at the Athletics. Dean Macey must have a good chance if he is fit. But that is a huge if, considering his career history. If Kelly Sotherton can improve on her disappointing javelin performances of 2006, she also has a good chance of reaching the podium.