by Larry Eder
EME NEWS (MAR 5, 2015)
RESULT OF THE DAY
David Storl 21.23 in shot put, the best qualification result ever at European Indoor Championships. The best result at European indoors since 2007.
FAVORITE FALLS
Gomis out in long jump qualification as World leader 2015, Stanek as 2nd best shot putter in Europe 2015 out in shot put qualification.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Huge improvement of Konrad Bukowiecki in shot put to European Indoor junior record 20.46. It is also better as “outdoor” European junior record, held by David Storl 20.43 in 2009. And it is also 2nd best mark ever by a junior indoors with senior implement, better is only World junior record holder US Terry Albritton with 21.05.
QUOTES OF THE DAY
Kafetien Gomis. LJ world leader. Didn’t qualified to the final. “I tried to run quick but I was too slow today. For sure, that is not my kind of track. I prefer hard surface as I use such one at my trainings in France. On other hand such kind of track should help guys to achieve strong results tomorrow. I expect that winner will leap over 820.”
Tomas Stanek. Czech 2nd placer in European lists with no mark in qualification: “This was a disaster. I feel like I should to quit with athletics now. I have a total goulash in my head, I think I’ll start to cooperate with some psychologist. Maybe I was too nervous. I should spank myself for this performance. I was used to throw 20.50 easily and now I show something like this? I thought that I already know the technique well but this was like a cold shower to me and I have a lot to improve.”
OTHER EURO INDOORS NEWS
NETHERLANDS: Sifan Hassan has decided to compete only in the 1500m at the European Indoors. The 22 year old Dutch athlete had been entered in the 3000m also. She will start as overwhelming favourite as her season’s best of 4:00.46 is 6 seconds faster than any other European this year. If she wins the 1500m title, she will be the European 1500m champion indoors and out.
ZURICH WINNERS: 9 are competing, among them four French: Lavillenie, Nana Djimou, Lesuer, Kowal (1500) added with Storl, Schippers, Hassan, Sidorova and Beitia.
SWEDEN: The Swedish athletics team’s travel to Prague got disrupted by the Norwegian pilots’ strike, report svt.se. The team’s departure was delayed by six hours.
FINLAND: Talented Finnish pole vaulter Wilma Murto (European Youth All-time indoor best holder 440) has had to withdraw from the European Indoors as she is suffering with fever and respiratory symptoms, report iltasanomat.fi.
PRESS CONFERENCE: Pavel Maslak and Zuzana Hejnova spent last summer wondering what might have been, but now they have the perfect way to banish any bad memories. The duo return to the big time at these European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague and both cannot wait to run in front of their home crowd. “I am really looking forward to competing,” said Hejnova. “It is a special atmosphere in the 02 Arena and I am excited by it.” Maslak agreed. He said: “I cannot wait for the championships where I will be running in front of my family and my friends. There should be great excitement.”
PRESIDENT: Prague 2015 is set to be the “best ever” European Athletics Indoor Championships, claimed Hansjörg Wirz today when he addressed his last ever pre-event press conference as European Athletics’ President in the Czech capital’s Old Town Hall today. Wirz, who is due to step down in April from the role he’s held for the last 16 years, claimed the 33rd edition of the continent’s “second most important competition” will be a fitting finale to his long term at the helm. “This will be a great competition,” he said. “We have had optimal preparation from the organisers here after an outstanding couple of years for European athletics.”
OPENING CEREMONY: The event was oficially opened with a magnificient opening ceremony highlighting the success of Czech Athletics. Barbora Spotakova, Jarmila Kratochvilova and Helena Fibingerova were the athletic stars of the programme. Sports Minister Marcel Chladek officially opened the championships.
