Anouk Vetter leads the World Championships in Athletics in Eugene after six parts in the heptathlon. The 29-year-old Amsterdam-born won the javelin on Monday and took the lead from Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam. Vetter only needed to last to the last 800 meters to become the first Dutchman to become world champion in the all-around.

The 800 meters start tonight at 3:55 am (Dutch time) and Vetter has a 19-point lead. It was good for a margin of about a second and a half at Thiam.

Trouble is, the 800 meters was the worst part of Vetter, who won silver at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. Gold then goes to Thiam.

Thiam is also not one of the best 800 meters runners, but slightly better than Vetter. Vetter’s personal best is 2.17.71 for six years and his Belgian competitor is at 2.15.24 since May 2017.

Anouk Vetter takes the lead in the javelin throw.

Vetter’s personal record in the long jump

Vetter is well behind the towering favorite Thiam. The Netherlands started the second day on Monday with a best record in the long jump of 6.52 meters. Thiam jumped a further 6.59, but went no further in the standings.

Therefore Thiam had to fear losing the lead, because the sixth part was a javelin throw and that was Vetter’s forte. The reigning Olympic champion came in with a gap of 53.01, while Vetter recorded 58.29 and thus took the lead.

The question is whether Vetter’s advantage is big enough to secure gold in the 800 meters. Medals are no longer an issue for the 2016 European champions, who already took bronze at the World Cup in London in 2017. Vetter’s lead over America’s Anna Hall, who is third, and Poland’s number four Adrianna Sulek is enormous.

Nafissatou Thiam was third in the javelin throw.

Vetter is well on his way to personal records in all respects

Vetter is also on his way to being the best in heptathlon. He has 6,045 points, which is far more than he earned earlier this year after six events at the prestigious heptathlon at Götzis.

Vetter sharpened his own Dutch record there with a final score of 6,693 points.

With Emma Oosterwegel, the Netherlands have another trump card around. The 24-year-old Oosterwegel, who took a surprise Olympic bronze in Tokyo, is seventh in the standings and does not appear to be meddling in the medal race anymore.

Anouk Vetter improves his personal ability in long jump.