by Alfonz Juck
Marcell Jacobs, 60m Euro title, March 2021, photo by Getty Images / European Athletics
When Marcell Jacobs came to Italy, he was but a journeyman long jumper, who wanted to be a sprinter. In Italy, Marcell became a sprinter. He now owns NRs at 60m and 100m, plus European title at 60m! His new 9.95 100m has many Italians excited!
Jacobs 9.95 NR in the 100 m
SAVONA (ITA, May 13): European indoor champion Marcell Jacobs smashed the Italian 100m record with 9.95 (+1.5) in the heats at the Meeting di Savona. Jacobs is the first European who in Olympic season went sub 10. He didn’t race in the final which was won by his teammate Lorenzo Patta (20) in a lifetime best of 10.13 (+1.4, previous PB 10.31) ahead of Mudiyenselage Abeykoon 10.15 Sri Lanka national record. World champion Dina Asher-Smith opened her outdoor season with victory in the 200m in 22.56 (+0.8) meet record ahead of teammate Beth Dobbin in 23.06 and Marie-Josee Ta Lou won the women’s 100m in a wind-aided 11.11 (3.4) ahead of Imani Lansiquot (11.18) and European U20 champion Vittoria Fontana (11.23). There were also wind-aided victories for Andrew Pozzi in the 110m hurdles in 13.42 (2.8) and for Dominican Republic’s Yancarlos Martinez in the 200m in 20.57 (2.3). Hungary’s Luca Kozak was more fortunate in the 100m hurdles, winning in a wind-legal 12.81 (+1.7) from Luminosa Bogliolo (12.84) and Elisa Di Lazzaro (12.90). Another standout result came from Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino with 50.71 in the women’s 400m while former European U20 champion Alessandro Sibilio had the beating of former European champion Yasmani Copello from Turkey in the 400m hurdles, 49.25 PB to 49.37. Amel Tuka also eased to victory in the men’s 800m in 1:47.86. Field event highlights included long jump victories for Larissa Iapichino (6.56m) and Filippo Randazzo (8.05m) and Portugal’s Francisco Belo won the shot put with 20.67m.
