The 2021 EA Indoor Champs, day 1 review : 3:38.68 Fontes, 818 Montler historical top marks

TORUN (POL, March 4): The day 0 saw after opening ceremony three qualifications in technical events and heats in two running events. The quality was there as in men´s 1500 m the fastest first round time in history of the championships was achieved and in the long jump such a result was equalled.

Short reviews

Men

1500m: Marcin Lewandowski (winning the fourth heat) and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (second in heat two) remain on course for the expected big clash. Jesus Gomez, Michal Rozmys, Ignacio Fontes and Neil Gourley also impressed. Filip Ingebrigtsen was just fourth in his heat (overall 20th 3:41.52), though, and failed to progress. Fontes and Brit Copeland clocked first ever Euroindoors sub 3:39 in 1500 m heats 3:38.68 and 3:38.88. First non qualifier looked to be Czech Fris 3:40.99 but later he was added into the finals as 13th participant. No one from French runners went through.

High jump: Just 2.21m was enough to find the eight qualifiers, who included favourites Maksim Nedasekau, Gianmarco Tamberi aka Legolas, Matusz Przybylko and Thomas Carmoy. Out from top names Bulgarian Ivanov and Ukrainian Doroshchuk.

Long jump: Favourites Thobias Montler (8.18m) and Miltiadis Tentoglou (8.04m) were the only two automatic qualifiers, while two other leading contenders Gabriel Bitan (7.78m) and Jacob Fincham-Duke (7.74m) scraped through. Brits mark was the last to qualify. Out with 769 was 2017 European indoor champion Smajlaj from Albania. Montler´s 818 equalled the best ever Euroindoors long jump qualification mark by Ukrainian Nykyforov in 2017.

Women

3000m: Two of the favourites, Jip Vastenburg and Marusa Mismas-Zrimsek, were DQ’d from the heats due to stepping on the line. They finished first and third in heat 2 (8:52.22 and 8:52.72). Jury of Appeal did not accept the protests in this connection and confirmed the disqualification. Verity Ockenden (8:52.60) was the fastest then. Maureen Koster and Meraf Bahta also qualified. Sub 9 was needed to qualify.

Shot: Good quality here as 7 achieved the standard 18.40 headed by Schwanitz 18.86, Dubitskaya 18.74 and big improvement for Toimil by 1 m to 18.64 Spanish record. World leader Dongmo followed 18.55. The 18.16 PB by Czech Cervenkova is the best ever result needed to qualify in the European Indoors. Out Poland´s Kardasz and Briton McKinna with 18.50+ marks this year.