Cluster analysis of event types in women’s heptathlon

The article presents data from a cluster analysis of the results of the world's top heptathletes, competing at different times and achieving scores exceeding 6500 points, as well as the results recorded at the 2023 Russian Athletics Championships in the women's heptathlon. The purpose of the study is to compare performance-based clusters of female heptathletes among the world’s top multi-event athletes and Russian elite athletes. Research methods: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, analysis of archival materials (competition protocols), methods of statistical data processing. Research results and conclusions. A comparison of the performances of the world’s top heptathletes with those achieved at the 2023 Russian Athletics Championships in the heptathlon revealed significant differences in the composition of event clusters that are interrelated and make a substantial contribution to the overall score. These findings enabled conclusions regarding the structure of competitive performance and the interrelationships among events among heptathletes of varying competitive levels.