by Larry Eder
Renaud Lavillenie photo by PhotoRun.net
Lavillenie 603, Porter 7.89, Kilty 6.50
JABLONEC (CZE, Mar 5): Olympic winner Renaud Lavillenie fulfilled the expectations. He cleared World leading 603 in second attempt and won at the 44th Jablonec Indoor Gala (EA Indoor Permit) on Saturday in Czech Republic. His competition started with 574 clearance when nearly all the other jumpers ended. Then he gave the capacity crowd of 1000 a nice 590 jump and then the world lead. After little thinking he then decided not immediately for world record attempts but for 610. And all three attempts were promising. “I could confirm I have the right shape before Portland. World lead is excellent and gives me the right feelings now,” said Lavillenie after his 16th meet of the career over six meters. Behind him excellent show in pole vault with Czech Jan Kudlicka attempting national record 583 after nice 574 jump. French Stanley Joseph as thid overall PB 564 the same for fourth Briton Max Eaves who jumped on borrowed poles as his did not arrive from London. And fifth top talent 16 years old Greek Emmanouil Karalis jumping youth all-time best indoor or outdoor 554 and had very promising attempts at 564. European champion 2014 Tiffany Porter already in heats improved the meet record to 7.93 just ahead of Euroindoor champion Alina Talay 7.98 and in second heat Croatian record for Andrea Ivancevic 7.94. Final was a top display of shape by Porter as she improved again to 7.89 MR (2nd best by European in 2016). Ivancevic 2nd 7.98 and Talay after mistake only last. World and European indoor champ Richard Kilty after easy 6.59 in heats promised to break Kim Collins meet record 6.56. And he did it in excellent manner. New European lead 2016 and meet record, also his second best ever 6.50. “Yes I feel I can run even faster, but still think i made the right decision to concentrate on summer,” he said with huge smile. Behind him life-time bests for Briton 60 specialist Theo Etienne 6.56 and Dutch Hensley Paulina 6.64 (he is originally from Curacao). Trinidad´s World relay medalist from Beijing Michelle-Lee Ahye gave the crowd two meet records. In heats 7.11 and in the finals 7.10 (also equaled her NR). Second Slovenian Maja Mihalinec two personal bests 7.25 in heats and 7.24 in finals. In close hurdles final top 3 clocked sub 7.60. Jarret Eaton won in meet record and his fastest of the season 7.54 ahead of Hungarian record holder Balazs Baji 7.56 and 2012 Olympian Jeff Porter 7.57 season best. In remaining two technical events home wins. In long jump Radek Juska already with first jump 803 season best and also meet record. In shot put Tomas Stanek surprised the strong field with last attempt of 21.30, his overall best, second all-time in Czech and second in Europe 2016. Canadian Tim Nedow also in last throw excellent 20.98, but unfortunately his first loss of 2016. Double olympic winner Tomasz Majewski beat by 2 cm his young home rival Konrad Bukowiecki 20.40 to 20.37. In summary meet records in 6 and stadium records in 4 out of 7 events.
