by Larry EderThe meeting in Torun, Poland is called the Copernicus Cup. It was one of my favorite destinations. The food at the HQ hotel, the Bulvar, was excellent. I stayed in the Hotel Nicolaus, a beautiful hotel, with fine breakfast and very reasonable rates. The city of Torun, Poland is 220,000, and and has fun culture, fun restaurants and a wonderrful feel.
The facility at Torun is well, glorious. The track is banked Mondo 200m, from Sopot and the World Indoor champs. Not a bad seat in the house and a loud, Polish crowd rocks the house!
Torun, Poland, February 6, 2019, photo by Larry Eder
Okay, you asked for it. Here are my Five Big Moments from Torun!
1. Nathan Strother continues to impress in the 400m! And Pavel Maslak reminds who is King of the 400m indoors.
Nathan Strother won going away in Boston, scoring a PB of 46.97. In Torun, he flew around the track, cutting in well and looking like a kid a few races from a sub 45. His 46.32 was fastest of of his heats. In heat 2, Pavel Maslak, 3 time European Indoor Champ at 400m, 2 x World Indoor Champ, ran 46.19. John Regis, manager of Nathan Strother noted that Mr. Strother and Mr. Pavel Maslak would be an interesting battle. It could be one of the best of the season!
2. Orlando Ortega shows his hurdle stuff, 7.49!
World Indoor silver Jarret Eaton/USA, took heat 1 in 7.62 over the 7.72 of Roger Iribarne of Cuba. In heat 2, Orlando Ortego, Spain, took the win in 7.55 with 7.73 by Milan Trajkovic/Cyprus. In the final, it was a battle out there, as Orlando Ortego got out well, taking the race in 7.49. Milan Trajkovic took second in 7.54 and Jarret Eaton, hit a hurdle and was third in 7.60. Balazs Baji, Hungary, took 4th in 7.73.
3. Men’s 1500m deep, Lewandowski delivers!
Samuel Tefara ran a fine 3:35.57 WL here, with no challenges. Marcin Lewandowski delighted the Polish crowd with his fine 3:36.50 NR in the 1,500m, as he builds towards Glasgow. Kalie Berglund of Sweden was third in Swedish NR of 3:36.63, and Michal Rozmys of Poland scored a big PB with his 4th place in 3:38.53!!
4. Ewa Swoboda continues to dominate the 60m!
In Lodz, the night before Torun. Ewa Swoboda continued to win, hitting 7.13 twice. As the last event of the evening, the Polish crowd went away crazy happy as Ewa Swoboda ran 7.25 for heat 1 win. In heat 2, Marie Jose Ta Lou won in 7.15, in her 2019 debut. The final was excellent as Swoboda got out well and Ta Lou challenged, but Swoboda held off TaLou, 7.15 to 7.16.
5. Habitam Alemu wins Big 800, Laura Muir sets Scottish Record
Habitam Alemu was in control from early on, and her 1:59.49 was a controlled win. Laura Muir moved down from the 5000m last month to a 1:59.50, a new Scottish record, running hard and tough for this time in the season.
The @runblogrun tour of the IAAF World Indoor Tour, aka Le Tour de Larry, is sponsored by USATF and Nike, reminding you that the 2019 Toyota USATF Indoor Championships are February 22, 23, and 24 at the Ocean Breeze AC, on Staten Island. To purchase tickets, please use this link:
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