by Alfonz Juck
A busy weekend of national indoor championships, over the weekend of February 17-19, 2023, compiled and edited by EME News.
EUROPEAN INDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (Joseph 7.44, Bertemes 21.93, Husillos 45.58)
DORTMUND (GER, Feb 19): Olympic and world champion Malaika Mihambo leaped out to 6.66m in the long jump on the second day of the German Indoor Championships. Tobias Poyte cleared 2.28m in the high jump but former European champion Mateusz Przybylko retired after one attempt at 2.10m. On the track, Marvin Schlegel won the 400m in a PB of 46.25 and Skadi Schier was a surprise winner of the women’s 400m in 52.93. Fresh from a fast German indoor mile record, Amos Bartelsmeyer won a tactical 1500m in 3:47.38 and Katharina Trost dominated the women’s 1500m in 4:11.87. European U18 2000m steeplechase champion Jolanda Kallabis, 18, concluded the day with victory in the 800m in 2:03.71. Christina Honsel 188 and Anjuli Knasche 445 won the high jump and pole vault.
TORUN (POL, Feb 19): On the second day of the Polish Indoor Championships, Natalia Kaczmarek improved her Polish indoor 400m record to 50.83 to beat domestic rivals Anna Kielbasinska (51.33) and Justyna Swiety-Ersetic (51.91) while Katejan Duszynski won the men’s 400m in an indoor lifetime best of 46.24 from teenager Igor Bogaczynski in 46.89. Also on the track, Jakub Szymanski improved to 7.53 in the 60m hurdles to beat Damian Czykier (7.63), Mateusz Borkowski beat European indoor champion Patryk Dobek in the 800m, 1:48.51 to 1:49.70, and Martyna Galant followed up her 1500m victory with the 3000m title in 8:53.76. Albert Komanski also won the men’s 200m in a fast 20.56.
MADRID (ESP, Feb 19): There were remarkable performances primarily in the men’s events at the Spanish Indoor Championships. Reigning European indoor champion Oscar Husillos won the 400m in a Spanish record of 45.58 ahead of Inaki Canal (45.89) and Lucas Bua (46.07) and Enrique Llopis equaled the Spanish record with 7.48 to win the 60m hurdles. Jordan Diaz also produced three performances in excess of his Spanish record in the triple jump: 17.58m, 17.59 also WL, and 17.50m. Saul Ordonez also won a high class 800m final in 1:45.88 from European champion Mariano Garcia (1:45.91) and Javier Miron (1:45.98) and Ignacio Fontes won the 1500m in 3:45.95. In women’s events, Esther Guerrero won the 1500m in 4:10.48 and Maria Belen Toimil threw 17.37m in the shot put. Xenia Benach won hurdles in 8.07 (8.01 in semifinals) over Teresa Errandonea in 8.13 (8.08 in heats).
CLERMONT-FERRAND (FRA, Feb 19): In the last race of the day, Just Kwaou-Mathey edged out Pascal Martinot-Lagarde in the 60m hurdles final, 7.53 to 7.54, with Dimitri Bascou third in 7.58. In the 400m finals, Gilles Biron won the men’s title in 46.11 from Muhammad Abdallah Kounta in 46.28 and Camille Seri won the women’s title in 52.48. Other track highlights included Azeddine Habz winning the 1500m title from Louis Gilavert, 3:40.93 to 3:41.37, and Benjamin Robert winning the 800m in 1:47.84. Former European champion Benjamin Compaore won the triple jump title with 16.95m, Alioune Sene took a surprise win in the pole vault at 5.60m on countback from Valentin Lavillenie and Makenson Gletty won the heptathlon with a lifetime best of 6090 points, his first 6000 points-plus scores.
ANCONA (ITA, Feb 19): Sensation at Italian Indoors as Samuele Ceccarelli in 6.54 PB beat Olympic winner Marcell Jacobs 6.55. In the strong shot put Leonardo Fabbri at 21.60 over Zane Weir at 21.46 and Nick Ponzio at 20.60. Catalin Tecuceanu won the 800 m in 1:45.99 and Ayomide Folorunso women’s 400 m in 52.28 as other top marks. Riccardo Meli was the best in men 400 m 46.58. Osama Meslek won the 3000 m at 7:52.90. with Good triple jumping, Tobia Bocchi at 16.83, and Dariya Derkach at 14.12 over Ottavia Cestonaro at 14.11. Stefano Sottile cleared 226 to win the high jump followed by Marco Fassinotti’s 224 and Edoardo Stronati’s 224 Italian U20 record.
OSTRAVA (CZE, Feb 19): Fast 400 m finals highlighted the second day of Czech Indoors. Matej Krsek improved to 46.14 (2nd all-time best Czech behind Pavel Maslak) ahead of hurdler Vit Muller at 46.22 also PB. Tereza Petrzilkova got 52.19 women 400 m PB and Istanbul standard. Lada Vondrova was running the 200 m and won in 23.36 PB. Men´s 200 m saw Ondrej Macik 20.90 PB over Jiri Polak 20.91 PB. Filip Sasinek won the 1500 m in 3:40.24 meet record, fourth Pavel Vinduska achieved the Czech U20 record at 3:42.42. Radek Juska despite an arm injury won his 8th indoor long jump title with 787.
ST. GALLEN (SUI, Feb 19): Jason Joseph twice improved his national 60 m hurdles record at Swiss Indoors. In the semifinals 7.45 and in the finals 7.44 EL and tied 9th for every European all-time performer. Another Swiss hurdles record in the women’s category as Ditaji Kambundji went 7.81. Audrey Werro won the 800 m in 2:02.87. Correction to Saturday Mancini was NR in the 60 m.
BAERUM (NOR, Feb 19): Pal Haugen Lillefosse cleared 580 at Norwegian Indoors. Also Vladimir Vukicevic’s 7.79 hurdles and Narve Gilje Nordas’s 7:58.19 in the 3000 m. Christine Jensen clocked 23.50 in women’s 200 m and Andrea Rooth 8.17 in the hurdles.
GENT (BEL, Feb 19): Belgian Indoors were held traditionally for one day only. Ben Broeders cleared 580 in the pole vault, and Jolien Boumkwo improved women shot put the indoor record to 17.87. Also to note Rani Rosius 7.20 in the 60 m, Imke Vervaert 23.26 in the 200 m ahead of Chilean Martina Weil 23.29 NR. Naomi van den Broeck achieved 52.89 in the 400 m. Christian Iguacel clocked 20.90 with Julien Watrin also 20.90 in the 200 m. Elliot Crestan beat Tibo De Smet in the tactical 800 m 1:49.26 to 1:49.65. Ward Merckx clocked 6.67 to win the 60 m (also 6.66 in heats).
MALMO (SWE, Feb 19): The third day of Swedish indoors had personal bests for Emil Danielsson 3:40.94 in the 1500 m, and Max Hrejla at 7.70 in the hurdles. Carl Bengtstrom topped the 400 m with 46.26 and Tobias Montler’s long jump 787. Julia Henriksson won also the women’s 200 m in 23.50.
NYIREGYHAZA (HUN, Feb 19): Tamas Mate went to Hungarian 200 m indoor record 20.75. Balazs Vindics won the 800 m in 1:47.83 and Balint Szeles the hurdles in 7.70 at Hungarian Indoors. From women’s events, Bianka Bartha-Keri meets the record in the 800 m 2:01.95 and Greta Kerekes’s 8.06 hurdles over Anna Toth’s 8.11 PB.
POMBAL (POR, Feb 19): Ukrainian Roman Kokoshko highlighted Portugal Indoors as a guest with 21.42 in shot put. Jose Carlos Pinto clocked meet record in the 800 m at 1:47.97. Good triple jump won by Patricia Mamona 14.25 ahead of Agate Sousa 14.11. Marta Pen Freitas won the 3000 m in 8:53.44 ahead of Manuela Machado at 8:59.69. Olimpia Barbosa won 60 m hurdles in 8.16 PB.
HELSINKI (FIN, Feb 19): Reetta Hurske continues with fast hurdles times. During the second day of Finnish Indoors she got 7.83 win, her second-best ever. Elmo Lakka won the men´s final in 7.67 ahead of Ilari Manninen’s 7.72.
ABBOTSTOWN (IRL, Feb 19): Israel Olatunde highlighted Ireland’s Indoors with a 60 m national record of 6.57. Fast also Jack Raftery with 46.37 in the 400 m. Women win for Sarah Leahy 7.30 PB and Sophie Becker 53.11.
REYKJAVIK (ISL, Feb 19): From Iceland Indoors to report Guðbjörg Jóna Bjarnadóttir 24.41 in women 200 m and Irma Gunnarsdóttir 627 in the long jump.
CHISINAU (MDA, Feb 18): Best result from the Moldova Indoor championships was 17.83 by Dumitriana Bezede in women’s shot put.
BUCURESTI (ROU, Feb 18-19): Top marks of Romanian Indoors in the jumping events. Alina Rotaru-Kottman 664 and Gabriel Bitan 795 in the long jump. Florentina Iusco 13.94 and Razvan Cristian Grecu 16.65 indoor PB in the triple jump. Daniela Stanciu cleared 193 in the high jump and Andrei Toader won shot of 20.32. Stella Rutto topped women’s 3000 m in 9:10.06 and in hurdles Anamaria Nesteriuc at 8.16 and Alin Anton at 7.77.
PIRAEUS (GRE, Feb 19): World leader Miltiadis Tentoglou leaped to 820 to win the Greek national title in the long jump. Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou won the women’s pole vault 440.
LUXEMBOURG (LUX, Feb 19): Bob Bertemes showed superb shape in the shot put during Luxemburg Indoors (held over one day) with a 21.93 national record and European Lead 2023. Patrizia van der Weken won the 60 m in 7.31 and Charel Grethen men 800 m in 1:49.93.
TALLINN (EST, Feb 19): Diana Suumann clocked a 60 m hurdles national record at Estonian Indoors with 8.07. Oilme Voro clocked 23.86 in women’s 200 m.
LINZ (AUT, Feb 19): Susanne Gogl-Walli achieved a fast 52.17 in women’s 400 m at Austrian Indoors. Raphael Pallitsch won the 1500 m with 3:43.40 and correction to Saturday Markus Fuchs won the 60 m in 6.61 PB and Istanbul standard.
BRATISLAVA (SVK, Feb 19): Viktoria Forster highlighted Slovak Indoors on Sunday with national hurdles record of 8.03 improved after 15 years. Roman Haraslin surprised with a 47.40 overall PB in the 400 m.
RANDERS (DEN, Feb 19): Sofia Thogersen clocked the national U20 record in the women’s 3000 m with 9:10.01.
BELGRADE (SRB, Feb 19): From Serbian Indoors second day to note Lazar Anic 782 in the long jump, 200 m wins for Ivana Ilic 24.10 PB and Bosko Kijanovic 21.35. Middle distance record holder Elzan Bibic won the 800 m in 1:51.11 indoor PB.
KLAIPEDA (LTU, Feb 19): Good women’s triple jump at Lithuanian Indoors, Aina Griksaite improved to 14.08 over Dovile Kilty’s 13.82.
KYIV (UKR, Feb 19): From the final day of Ukrainian Indoors, steeple 8:45.46 by Vasyl Koval.
MOGILYOV (BLR, Feb 19): Former European champion Elvira Grabarenko won Belarus 60 m hurdles title in 7.96. Karyna Demidik cleared 191 in the high jump, Violetta Skvortsova 14.28 in the triple jump, and Anastasiya Goroshko 22:17.58 in the 5000 m walk. From men’s events, Mikita Danilau 223 in the high jump.
ZAGREB (CRO, Feb 19): The second day of Croatian Indoors had 16-years old Jana Koscak improving her national U18 high jump record to 191. Ties 7th best-ever indoor U18 performer. Marino Bloudek won the 800 m in indoor PB 1:48.21.
ZAGREB (CRO, Feb 19): Part of Slovenian Indoors had in the 400 m Agata Zupin 53.33 and Lovro Mesec Kosir 47.17.
VALMIERA (LAT, Feb 19): Gunta Vaicule won after 400 m and also the 200 m at Latvian Indoors with 23.58, the top mark of the 2nd day.
