Decathlon pack closing on Clay

By Martyn Herman

BEIJING (Reuters) - American Bryan Clay's lead in the Olympic decathlon came under attack late on Thursday when his lead was trimmed to 88 points at the halfway mark.

Clay, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, was in charge after the sodden morning session when he scored heavily in the 100 meters, long jump and shot put, building a lead of 145 points.

However, he struggled to 11th and 10th respectively in the high jump and 400 meters later and faces a tough task on Friday with the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500m to decide the podium places.

Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus moved up to second after clearing 2.11m, along with Athens champion Roman Sebrle, in the high jump and clocking a season's best time in the 400m.

Clay's team mate Trey Hardee is third after a personal best in the same event.

World champion and world record holder Sebrle is still just about in contention despite a poor morning that had left him down in 10th place.

The Czech cleared 2.11m in the high jump and had climbed to fifth, albeit 209 points behind Clay, after the 400m.

Clay started the grueling event in fine form, winning the 100m and long jump and setting a new best in the shot put.

Hardee lost ground in the shot where he was 30th but posted a personal best of 2.05m in the high jump and a strong finish in the 400m to stay in touch.

"Hopefully I'll stay in the lead," Clay said. "I had three very, very good events. I had one not so good event. I did okay in the 400, nothing special.

"I think if you take into account the conditions and type of meet everyone is having, I think I'm doing pretty good."

Ukraine's Oleksiy Kasyanov is fourth, 10 points behind Hardee.

Kazakhstan's Dimitry Karpov, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, pulled out of Thursday's competition following a sub-par 100 meters in which he appeared to be injured.

Tom Pappas of the U.S., who failed to finish the 2004 Olympics and last year's world championships, also withdrew.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)