by Larry Eder
The final day of any continental or global championships is always consequential and full of drama! Such was the case with the European Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 in Apeldorn! The Omnisport arena was full to the proverbial gills, with fans from all over. The Irish were on the backstretch, close to the track, the Estonian fans (multi events) were up near the rafters, and the Dutch fans were, well, everywhere. The color orange was all over the Omnisport arena, and on Sunday, His Majesty, the King of the Netherlands, was there to soak in the amazing performances of the Nederlands team, with five gold medals. Here are my deep thoughts on the amazing final night and day of the Apeldoorn 2025.
- The absolute intensity of the fans in Apeldoorn has to be seen and heard to be believed. After Saturday night and Lieke Klaver, and Thursday night and Femke Bol, I was surprised to see the absolute excitement and true support for the Dutch athletes.
- The Men’s pole vault had three men clear 5.90m, all on the first attempts, and their second jumps determined the medal configuration, well kind a. Let me explain. Emmanuel Karolis, GRE and Menno Vloom, NED, were moving to a jump off, and Emmanuel hurt his leg. Menno and Emmanuel spoke and they agreed to share a tie for the gold! Emmanuel and Menno shared the gold and Sondre Guttorsmen, NOR took the bronze.
- Andrei Rares Touder, ROU took the lead with attempt 1, throwing 21.08. Wictor Peterson, POL, threw 20.88m in the first round and took over second, with Tomas Stanek, Czechia , in third position, 20.50m in attempt 2, and 20.75m in attempt 3. Peterson threw 21.04m to cement his silver in fith attempt and Andrei Rares Touder threw 21.27m on final attempt to take gold and set a Romanian record!
- The 800 meters is always a bloodbath indoors. You have to stand on your feet, avoid the falls, and move when you can, strategically. Consider Anna Wieigosz, POL, who has competed. for many years , taking fifth in 2018 Berlin Euros, third in 2022 Euros and and sixth in the 2024 Roma Euros. In her first European Indoors, Anna ran a strong race, staying out of trouble and was rewreded with gold in 2:02.09. Clara Liberman, FRA, took the silver in 2:02.32. Anita Horvat, SLO, who ran very tough, was bronze in 2:02:52. Audrey Werro, SUI, who was knocked down and finished last in 2:27. She will be back, Werro is a talent.
- The Ukraine won both high jumps. After Saturday night, where the Ukraine won the Men’s high jump, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UKR, used five attempts to take gold in Apeldoorn. Clearing 1.92m, 1.95m, 1.97m on first attempts, Mahuchikh used two jumps to take gold, as her competition were all finished by 1.95m. In silver was Angelina Topic, SRB, who cleared 1.95m. In bronze, who set a PB when she cleared 1.92m on first attempt. Clearing 1.92m on second attempt and taking 4th was Christina Hansel, GER. Taking fifth and clearing 1.92m on her third attempt was Morgan Lake, GBR.
- The Men’s 3,000 meters had some serious players in it. Jakob Ingebrigtsen, fresh off his 3:36 win at the 1,500 meters on Fridy, was facing fit. George Mills was focused on medaling, and Azzedine Habz, FRA, back from his silver in the 1,500m, watching for a point to use his skills in such a tactial race. Jakob took the pack through 1k in 2:52. Andreas Almgren, SWE ran a 2:37 (5:29( second kilometer. Then it got fierce. Jakob Ingebrigtsen used a 2:19 for the last 1,000m and a 1:49.8 for the last 800 meters to run the speed out of anyone who was still breathing, taking the gold. George Mills stayed out trouble, taking the silver and Azzedome Abiz, FRA, outkicked the field to take the bronze, outkicking Andreas Almgren for the bronze medal. Ingebrigtsen won his fourth straight indoor title at 3,000 meters. and this completed his third straight double at the European Indoors!
- The 3,000 meters were full of drama. Lea Meyer of Germany, who I have seen race before, lead at 1k in 3:09.10 and 2k in 6:03.06 (2:56), and then, the race was on! Melissa Courtney-Bryant, GB, Salome Afonso, POR and Sarah Healy, IRE were pushing it. Over the last fifty meters, Courtney-Bryant and Healy were together and in the final, final meters, Ireland’s Sarah Healy took the win in 8:52.86 to Courtney-Bryant’s 8:52.92! In third, Salome Afonso, who added the bronze in the 3,000m to her silver from Friday night in the 1,500m. Mauren Koster was knocked out , literally, when she ran into Hannan Nuttall. Koster had to go to the hospital but was released the next day.
- The Men’s 4x400m was going to be a battle between Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Great Britian, and it was! With the home crowd absolutely screaming, Netherlands took gold in 3:04.95 EL, Spain, 3:05.18 NR and Belgium, 3:05.18 as well, Team GB was 3:05.48! Exciting as I have ever seen!
- The women’s 60 meters was, round for round, crazy fun. In the final, Zaynab Dosso, ITA, won in 7.01 in EL and NR! Dosso had improved each round and the race was going to be tough! Mujinga Kambundji, SUI, the defending champ, took second in 7.02, SB and Patrizia Van der Weken, LUX was bronze in 7.06. Van der Weken had been the find of the season!
- The women’s 4×400 meters capped off the 4 days of superb continental athletics, as the Netherlands, with Femke Bol anchoring, won in 3:24.34, NR, Great Britian in silver in 3:24.89 NR and Czechia in 3:25.31 NR. Top 4 teams set NRs! The crowd went crazy after a night of 5 golds for the Netherlands! What a way to end the Apeldoorn 2025 meeting!
- Watch for our deep thoughts on the whole event tomorrow!
