by Alfonz JuckThe 2019 European Indoor Championships will be held at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland on 1-3 March 2019. 637 athletes from 49 countries will be competing. Alfons Juck is the EME News service, daily, he provides news of the sport via EME News for managers and those interested in the sport. Here’s the breaking news on Glasgow.
Holly Bradshaw, photo by Getty Images/British Athletics
GLASGOW NEWS
CLERMONT-FERRAND (FRA): Pole Vault World record holder Renaud Lavillenie will not be able to try for fifth European Indoor gold next week in Glasgow. He confirmed due to his health situation Glasgow is a no go. “Unfortunately, I will not be able to jump, neither here Sunday nor in Glasgow. The reason is that I do not jump. I am in time of healing. The choice would be either to risk the injury or to learn from my past mistakes and focus on the summer season,” said Lavillenie who decided for the summer.
GLASGOW (GBR): The oldest entrant for Glasgow is Italian triple jumper Fabrizio Donato at age of 42. He will defend silver medal from 2017. He was already 6th at the Euroindoors 2000 in Gent. Glasgow will be his 6th European Indoors. Youngest is the Spanish 400 m runner Salma Celeste Paralluelo at age of 15.
BUDAPEST (HUN): Hungary selected for Glasgow 5 men and in the team 8 women. Top name is World indoor champion Anita Marton in women shot put. Xenia Kriszan was invited for pentathlon. Ready for surprise will be two males Balazs Vindics in the 800 m and Valdo Szucs in the hurdles. Also strong women hurdles duo Greta Kerekes with Luca Kozak.
REYKJAVIK (ISL): Iceland will have two athletes, Hlynur Andresson in the 3000 m and in women long jump Hafdis Sigurdadottir. Top runner Anita Hinriksdottir is unfortunately injured.
SARAJEVO (BIH): Bosna and Hercegovina is sending three males. With solid chances 800 m runner Amel Tuka and shot putter Mesud Pezer. Third entrant is another 800 m runner Abedin Mujezinovic.
ATHENS (GRE): European triple jump champion Paraskevi Papahristou was injured earlier in January was forced to replace competition with intensive therapies. Now she is ready for Glasghow. The experienced athlete, having received the approval from her doctor Dionysis Hissa, returned to good training which showed she is ok to compete. “I always want to fight for a medal,” she said. Her coach Georgi Pomaski added: “Although she did not compete, she is in a competitive position and able to chase the jumps that will put her on the podium. Without realistic chance to attack the medals she would not travel to Glasgow. I think the medals will be between 14.20 to 14.45.”
BRUSSELS (BEL): News from Belgian team, Paulien Couckuyt will be the fifth runner of women 4×400 m team. Hanne Maudens will concentrate on pentathlon and will miss the long jump where she achieved national indoor record 653 this winter. Also the case of athletes signing the Code of Conduct while representing the country is still ongoing. No one from the athletes concerned signed the document and they are expecting a new version.
SOFIA (BUL): Six athletes from Bulgaria will be in Glasgow. Top medal hope is shot putter Radoslava Mavrodieva. Also going is young talent Aleksandra Nacheva for triple jump. The other four team members are males with high jumper Tihomir Ivanov beeing the front runner.
BELGRADE (SRB): Serbia is sending 10 athletes with long jump star Ivana Spanovic as the main name. Talented runner Elzan Bibic is entered for 1500 m and 3000 m, female fresh national record holder Amela Terzic goes for 1500 m. Former winner Asmir Kolasinac is back for shot put.
PRAGUE (CZE): Latest addition to Czech team is young pole vaulter Matej Scerba (20) who improved during the indoor season to 555 cm.
