by Larry Eder
Lavillenie 602 WL, Collins remains unbeaten
BERLIN (GER, Feb 14): Second edition of ISTAF Indoor before 12 000 spectators proved again to be a top spectacle. Olympic winner Renaud Lavillenie continued in his winning tour (6 wins in 6 meets) and this time cleared another World lead 602 (also MR) in first attempt, his jubilee 10th six metres competition. Afterwards before the eyes of Sergey Bubka he tried three times at 617. Second Robert Sobera of Poland 581 PB with Valentin Lavillenie and Piotr Lisek getting 573. In the men hurdles Orlando Ortega of Cuba in his season opener clocked 7.51 and equaled the World lead (also meet record). Second Dayron Robles 7.53 ahead of Aries Merritt 7.58 and WL holder Dimitri Bascou 7.60. Kim Collins won again, the 60 m in excellent 6.50 ahead of Antiguan Daniel Bailey 6.57 and Berlin sprinter Lucas Jakubczyk 6.59 (he also clocked 6.59 in heats), fourth Yunier Perez 6.60 and only fifth Christophe Lemaitre 6.65. Collins is unbeaten this indoor season. European sprint champion Dafne Schippers improved her PB over 60 m to 7.09 (MR) over South African Carina Horn 7.20 PB, third Jessica Young 7.21. Home win for Cindy Roleder over the hurdles 8.06 against Panama´s Yvette Lewis 8.07 and Dutch Nadine Visser 8.08 PB. US Funmi Jimoh got the women long jump 674 ahead of Romanian Alina Rotaru who equaled her indoor PB 668. Best German Sosthene Moguenara only 5th (652). In the discus held after all events finished Shanice Craft achieved the women indoor All-time best 62.07 ahead of Nadine Muller 62.00. In men competition Martin Wierig with first throw 64.24 was the winner.
(Editor’s note: Lavillenie continues to astound. His jumping this early suggests some grand heights later this season. I hope to see him vault in Prague.)
