by Alfonz Juck
Opening ceremonies, 2017 European Indoor Athletics Championships, Belgrade, photo courtesy of European Athletics
Here is, once again, all of the news that is fit to print from behind the scenes courtesy of Alfonz Juck and our friends at EME News.
EME NEWS (MAR 4, 2017) BELGRADE
RESULT OF THE DAY
Konrad Bukowiecki 21.97 in shot put is fourth best European all-time indoors at age of 20. It is also European Record U23. Laura Muir meet record and UK record 4:02.39 in the 1500 m. Ivana Spanovic the best ever qualification result indoors 703 in long jump.
FAVORITE FALLS
Lea Sprunger as World leader only 5th in the 400 m. David Storl huge 21.30 and only bronze.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Izmir Smajlaj winning first ever medal and directly gold for Albania in long jump 808 and based on 2nd best with defender Torneus. Also first ever Slovak silver at European Indoors for Jan Volko in 60 m 6.58 NR.
QUOTES OF THE DAY
“I am feeling so good right now and I would like to dedicate this medal to my father,” Izmir Smajlaj after winning the long jump.
“I cannot describe what I am feeling right now. I am completely in shock. I am not able to say anything interesting today – call me tomorrow!”, Konrad Bukowiecki after winning the shot put.
AGENTS (by gold medals)
Helena Van der Plaetsen, Jozsef Babinyecz, Jose Praia, Carine Messerschmidt, Stina Funke, Mario Bassani, Alfonz Juck, Jos Hermens, Munir Yaras, Czeslaw Zapala, Rene Auguin, Kadri Kallas, Steffen Keil. Karen Locke, Vera Michallek.
MEDALS
POL 3-1-3, GBR 3-0-0, GER 2-2-2, CZE 1-2-2, GRE 1-1-1, FRA 1-1-0, 19 countries with medals.
POINTS
POL 65, GER 49, SWE 49, CZE 40, GBR 35, ESP 23, so far 28 countries with points.
WORLD LEADS
8 – Thiam 4870, Nykyforov 818, Hess 17.52, Marton 19.28, Palsyte 201, Stefanidi 485, Bukowiecki 21.97, Spanovic 703
ADDITIONAL EUROPEAN LEADS
4 – Kilty 6.54, Maslak 45.88, Muir 4:02.39, Gierisch 14.37
WORLD INDOOR U20 RECORD
1 – Raffin 17.20
MEET RECORDS
2 – Thiam 196 (Heptathlon HJ), Muir 4:02.39
TITLE DEFENDERS
4 – Marton, Kilty, Maslak, Lewandowski (but in other event).
OTHER BELGRADE INFOS AND NEWS
GOING FOR DOUBLE: Britain’s Laura Muir completed the first half of her mission at the European Indoors storming to victory in the 1500m in a championships and British record of 4:02.39. She became the first British woman to win this title since Mary Stewart in 1977.
CLOSE DECISION: Between the 3rd and 4th in the 60 m final only 0.002 difference was registere. 6.628 for Hamilton and 6.630 for Rose. Pascal Mancini was lucky in his 60 m semfinals as his starting reaction was 0.104.
HISTORY: Pavel Maslak as first ever won three golds in the 400 m and that in a row. Airine Palsyte second medal and first gold at Euroindoors for Lithuania. Ruth Beitia in 8th appearance at Europeanindoors 6th medal.
BELGRADE (SRB): Colin Jackson is backing Andy Pozzi to break his world indoor 60mH record and his European outdoor 110mH record, informs European Athletics. “Every time I watch him run, I think if anyone can take my world or European records, it is this young man. He has all that is needed: he has good basic speed and now he has proved he can win major championships and already we had seen that he can run the fastest time in the world. You cannot ask for much more than that. Now it is for him to get more training under his belt and to progress the same way he is going. It may take him two years but I am thinking that those 7.30 and 12.91 are marked figures,” he said.
BELGRADE (SRB): Nafissatou Thiam’s coach Roger Lespagnard said she surpassed his expectations in Belgrade. “I had expected that she would end up somewhere between 4,750 and 4,800 points,” he said. “It’s a pity that she did not improve the Belgian record (4,877 pts), but we knew the 800 meters would be a difficult task because we have only trained a little bit for it this winter,” he said.
BELGRADE (SRB): After winning the 60m hurdles title in Belgrade, Cindy Roleder plans to open her summer season in the Doha Diamond League, informs Leichtathletik.de. She is also still aiming to compete in the Gotzis Hypo-Meeting at the end of May.
BELGRADE (SRB): After failing to qualify for the shot put final, former champion Asmir Kolasinac said he has been nursing an injury in the lead up to the championships. “Twelve days ago I felt some pain in my leg and I’ve been diagnosed with a tense nerve in my back. I haven’t trained at all since then, so I’m really disappointed,” he said.
BELGRADE (SRB): Ewa Swoboda has said she has been struggling with illness in the lead-up to the championships. “I’m actually a little ill, so I don’t know what to expect from this championships. However I am happy that I’ve won my heat, and we’ll see how it goes in the semi finals,” she said.
BELGRADE (SRB): Mourad Amdouni was a late withdrawal from the French team due to a left calf injury, informs L’Equipe. He was set to contest the 3000m in Belgrade.
BELGRADE (SRB): Injury forced also Amel Tuka not to run in the 800 m semifinals.
BELGRADE (SRB): European Athletics explained the Friday´s technical difficulties as an situation caused by many factors like technical difficulties, the overall situation in the hall, new equipment and human factor. Work has been done for Saturday and the 2nd day went smoothly on that side of the competition, specially concerning the starters work.
BELGRADE (SRB): After her fall Czech star Denisa Rosolova is ok, had several bruises and neck difficulties, but nothing major. She is cheering for her boyfriend Adam Sebastian Helcelet in heptathlon.
