byLarry EderGood morning sportsfans!
Hello from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin! At #RunBlogRun, we have our team in Belgrade, Nigeria, Kenya and Staten Island to cover the 2022 World Indoor Championships from Belgrade, Serbia.
Mujinga Kambundji wins 60 meters for Switzerland, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
- Lazaro Martinez shows a mere hint of his TJ talent.
Cuba has a plethora of long jumpers and triple jumpers. Fine fitness and attention to technique, Martinez got out to 17.67m, a new world leader, when the best jump in the world was just over 18 meters. What will Martinez do outdoors in Eugene? Pedro Pichardo now of Portugal looks like he will jump as long as the ageless Nelson Evora. Donald Scott kept his cool and took the bronze in a real fight, just holding off 2-time indoor gold medalist Will Claye.
Lazlo Martinez, Triple Jump gold medalist, doing his victory dance, photo by @gettyimages for @Worldathletics
2. Women’s shot put gives Portugal its first medal in the event.
It came down to the fifth round when Chase Ealey blew the rust out with a fine PB and Area Indoor record of 20.21 meters!
In the throws, emotion plays a huge part. Auriol Dongma went into the ring, with one purpose. Dongma let out a huge sound, as she powered the indoor orb to 20.43 meters, a new leader in the event.
Jessica Schiller of the Netherlands, who had lead until this time, was relegated to third. In the final round, Jessica improved to 19.48m, keeping the bronze for Netherlands.
Auriol Dongmo, photo by @stargazerpix, via @peacockTV
3. Women’s 3000m, Ethiopia gets split up by Elle Purrier St. Pierre
I love it when pundits write about one country and a sweep. Ethiopia looked like they could sweep in both 1,500m s and 3000m s. Well, they must not have told Elle Purrier St. Pierre.
Elle Purrier St. Pierre, Alicia Monson, and Gabrielle DeBues Stafford were in it to do their best. Monson took seventh, and De Bues Stafford took a close fourth.
Women’s 3000m, Hailu, Purrer St. Pierre, Taye, photo by @gettyImages for @WorldAthletics
Elle Purrier St. Pierre is a global racer. This woman did not make a bad move and raced like she was planning on a gold medal. The first 1k was tentative, the second was a bit faster and the last 1k was where the race was. Purrier kept her cool as Hailu tried to get away for the win, holding off Ejgayehu Taye for the silver. Gabriela DeBues Stafford had let Elle Purrier go by her with about 300m to go, and finished 4th, pushing past Dawit Seyaum.
4. There’s more to Belgium’s multi-program than Nafi Thiam.
Most people have thought that Belgium had one major multi-eventer, Nafi Thiam. Noor Vidts put together an amazing day of performances, hurdling the 60m in 8.15 for 1095 points, clearing 1.83m in the high jump, for 1,016 points, and throwing the shot put 14.03m for 796 points. Poor then scored 1040 points in the long jump in 6.60m, and then, gutted out a 2:08.81 with 982 points for a gold-medal-winning score of 4,929 points. Adrianna Sulek of Poland is one tough multi-venter. Adrianna hurdled 8.36 for 1048 points, cleared 1.89m in HJ for 1093 points, and threw the shot 13.40m for 754 points. In the LJ, Adrianna went 6.43m for 985 points and ran a gutty 2:09.56, to score 4,851 for the silver.
Noor Vidts takes the pentathlon, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
Only seven points separated bronze and 4th place! Seven points. Kendell Williams hurdled 8.20m, Holly Mills hurdled 8.15, then, Kendall cleared 1.80m, Holly cleared 1.74m in the HJ, 2062 to 1998 points. In the Shot put, Kendall hurdled 12.81 to Holly Mills’ 13.68, 2777 to 2771 points. In event 4, the long jump, Kendall leaped 6.69 to Holly Mills’ 6.28m, 3846 to 3,708 points.
In the 800m, Holly Mills had to put ten full seconds between Kendall Williams and herself. Holly Mills ran 2:09.97 for 965 points, and a total of 4,673 points. Kendall Williams ran 2:19.23, scoring 834 points for a final, bronze medal-winning total of 4,680 points.
5. The women’s 60 meters showed the global power of sprinting!
For years, it was about sprinters from the US and Jamaica, well, no more.
While everyone was watching Ewa Swoboda and Mikiah Briscoe duking it out, few saw Mujinga Kambundji out in lane eight. Mujinga has come up through the Swiss club system, well developed and well supported. A fine sprinter, Mujinga has come up through European Athletics and has taken medals on the global stage, but this was her first win, as she was bronze in 2018. Mujinga is a veteran of the sprint wars and knew that she just had to run her race, with little pressure on her.
Mujinga Kambundji takes the 60m, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
Mujinga Kambunji is being celebrated by her sports-crazy country, Switzerland, as the champion that she is. What was wonderful was her reaction, it was genuine and she was not sure if she had won. Mujinga Kambunji did it the old-fashioned way, she took first in the World Indoor Championships 60 meters.
In Eugene, sprinters from all over the world will be battling for the 100m title.
