by Alfonz Juck
TORUN (POL, Feb 8): World champion Gudaf Tsegay highlighted the Copernicus Cup WIT Gold meet in a packed arena. After the pacemaker ended her work before the 800 m, she remained alone and still clocked the second fastest-ever mile (also WL and MR) at 4:16.16. She missed her outdoor PB only by 0.02. Tsegay was timed in the 1500 m with 3:59.48 which is another WL.
Another high-class race was women´s 800 m won by Olympic silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson in 1:57.87 WL/MR ahead of 37-years old Noelie Yarigo from Benin at 1:58.48 NR and Anita Horvat at 2:01.42.
Fourth WL of the evening by Greek Olympic winner Miltiadis Tentoglou who in the second attempt of the long jump leaped to 840 also MR, his second best ever indoors. Also had in series 824 and 827 enough to win over Thobias Montler with a good 817. Women´s hurdles brought the awaited home win by Pia Skrzyszowska with 7.79 (her second fastest ever and MR) over Reeta Hurske’s 7.81 NR followed by Britany Anderson’s 7.83 and Nadine Visser with 7.86.
Women´s 60 m saw Ewa Swoboda (7.11) being beaten by World Indoor champion Mujinga Kambundji 7.06 (second fastest European of 2023). Lieke Klaver continued in winning after Ostrava with 51.14 over the 400 m again ahead of Lada Vondrova at 51.91. Ethiopian affair in the 3000 m as top 4 was from the country, surprise winner Freweyni Hailu (in Karlsruhe run 800) in 8:46.92, best European Dutch Maureen Koster in fifth 8:51.62. Ernest John Obiena cleared 587 in the second attempt and won over good field men´s pole vault. Second Rutger Koppelaar 582 PB and third Ben Broeders 582 not only PB but also Belgian indoor record with Menno Vloon fourth also 582. US Daniel Roberts won the hurdles in 7.46 over Cuban Roger Iribarne in 7.49 PB and home Jakub Szymanski in 7.58.
Men’s track races brought good quality and European wins. Swedish hurdler Carl Bengtstrom won the 400 m in 46.15, the second fastest by a European this year behind Warholm. Another Swedish first place in packed 800 m by Andreas Kramer 1:46.37 and 1500 m by French Azeddine Habz 3:35.59 indoor PB (2nd best 2023) edging George Mills 3:35.92 and Jesus Gomez 3:36.33. New Zealand´s record holder Hamish Kerr won the high jump with 227 after a count-back with German Tobias Potye also 227.
