byLarry EderOn February 2, I visited the Meeting Karlsruhe at the Messe Karlsruhe. The Messe Karlsruhe seated 4,500 fans, and was sold out from mid December. In the two weeks it took to build the track and seating, the management added five hundred seats and sold them out. Seating was fantastic and the banked 200m track is fast!
Here are my five big moments from the second meet of the 2019 IAAF Indoor Circuit.
The view from my seat, February 2, 2019, photo by Larry Eder
In no order, here’s the 5 Big Moments from Karlsruher:
1. Naoto Tobe Flies through the Air in the High Jump
Taking his PB from 2.26m to 2.35m, and setting 3 new NRs, MRs and WLs, Naoto Tobe showed his talent and that he will have 90 million anxious Japanese cheering him on in nine months in Doha and 18 months in Tokyo. Tobe surprised himself, and his speed and fluidity over the bar were amazing to watch.
2. A Big Upset in the Men’s Long Jump
Juan Miguel Echevarria was surprised a bit by Sweden’s Thobias Nilson Montler, who produced a PB and NR at 8.08m. Juan Miguel had some fouling issues and just could not get his steps down, but still produced an 8.08m leap, and lost on best second jump. Michel Torneus continued to show his promise, with a fine 7.91m in the second of six IAAF World Indoor Meetings.
Ewa Swoboda, photo by PhotoRun.net
3. The 60m is the Ewa Swoboda show!
In heat 1, Ewa Swoboda of Poland, a fine sprinter, showed a hugely improved start and a fine run to the finish, hitting 7.08 WL! In heat 2, Dafne Schippers, sporting a tan from a warm weather training camp, won her heat in 7.24. In the final, it was all Swoboda, who had a fine start and ran away from Dafne Schippers, 7.10 to 7.19. Swoboda surprised herself!
4. Yulimar Rojas gets reminded of the competition in the TJ
Ana Peleterio of Spain takes this one in a NR/PB of 14.51m. Yulimar Rojas looked jet lagged and could not get her steps completely down, leaping 14.45m for second. Patricia Mamona of Portugal had some fine jumping, hitting 14.36m NR as well. Tori Franklin only could muster 13.97m as she had just arrived to the meet. A day later, Tori told me that her steps were off and she would be ready for Madrid.
5. Big pole vault
Alysha Newman had a fine evening of jumping, clearing four heights including 4.71m, a new Canadian record, on her first attempts. ANA/Russia Anzehika Siderova came in at 4.63m and cleared 4.71m as well on her first. Katerina Stefanidi also cleared 4.71m. But no one could clear 4.80m. Hence the triple tie, and as meet director had decided no jump offs, there was the unsatisfying tie in the pole vault.
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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