(Re-casts with winner)By Brian HomewoodLONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Frenchman Kevin Mayer led throughout the day to win the world decathlon title on Saturday although he nearly threw it all away on the pole vault. A fifth-place finish in the 1,500 metres, the final event, was enough to give a first global world title to the 25-year-old, who was Olympic silver medallist in Rio de Janeiro last year. Mayer finished on 8,768 points with German pair Rico Freimuth (8,564) and Kai Kazmirek (8,488) taking the silver and bronze medals. Mayer led from the shot put, the third event, and looked comfortable throughout except in the pole vault when he nearly wrecked his chances. After deciding to enter the fray at 5.10 metres, he missed his first two jumps and only narrowly made the third.

Source: Economic Times August 12, 2017 20:15 UTC