by Alfonz Juck
Bralon Taplin runs 31.97 WL for 300 meters in Ostrava! photo by PhotoRun.net
Pavel Maslak, 32.19 for 300 meters in Ostrava, just missed European record! photo by PhotoRun.net
Taplin 31.97, Maslak 32.19
OSTRAVA (CZE, Feb 14): Sold out new Ostrava Indoor hall and 1000 spectators saw excellent first international indoor meet here. The top highlight came at the end as Olympic finalist Bralon Taplin won a dramatic 300 m in 31.97 WL, Area record ahead of local star Pavel Maslak who with 32.19 missed his European all-time best by 0.04. “I knew I could come close to World record,” said Taplin who achieved fourth fastest ever indoor time. Maslak confirmed his top shape before European Indoors. Also Hurdles World champion Zuzana Hejnova in her first 400 m of the year clocked fast 51.96 ahead of Olympic silver medalist Sara Petersen 52.87, but faster in race 1 was Poland´s Justyna Swiety 52.73. In high quality shot put Poland´s star Konrad Bukowiecki with 21.15 indoor PB beat World and European Champion David Storl 20.97 and home number one Tomas Stanek 20.69 who after first throw did not continue due to slight leg injury. Andrew Fisher clocked Bahrain´s record 6.57 in the 60 m just edging Kim Collins 6.58 and Everton Clarke 6.58. Very close also the finish in women 60 m as Jamaican Gayon Evans beat Venezuela´s Andrea Purica as both were timed with 7.20. For Purica it was her 2nd national record of the day after 7.28 in heats. Ukrainian Hanna Plotitsyna showed top shape despite travelling a lot with 7.99 hurdles win (equaled her PB) clearly over US star Jasmine Stowers 8.05. Solid quality 1500 m women had Ethiopian Axumawit Embaye winning in 4:06.68 ahead of Albania´s record holder Luiza Gega 4:08.26 and junior Fantu Worku personal best 4:08.56. Other 4 personal bests were set, in men competition also four personal bests including for the winner Tamas Kazi of Hungary 3:40.62 in close finish over German Timo Benitz 3:40.66 ahead of African favorites. World U20 Champion Michaela Hruba fulfilled expectations with 190 high jump, opposite for Jan Kudlicka in pole vault (540) as he got beaten by Greek talent and European U18 Champion Emmanouil Karalis who improved to 560 nice clearance and tried afterwards 570.
