by Alfonz Juck
Elaine Thompson, photo by PhotoRun.net
Dafne Schippers, photo by PhotoRun.net
The last indoor meeting of any consequence prior to the World Indoors, the Muller Glasgow Indoor GP will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2018. Fine fields abound, and there will be some amazing events. I hope to be watching the meet via FB and twitter. Special thanks to Alfonz Juck, of EME News for his excellent previews and daily news.
Thompson vs Schippers
GLASGOW (GBR): Dafne Schippers is aiming to improve her season’s best of 7.09 in the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on Sunday, informs organisers. “I’m feeling good, I ran 7.09s last week and I hope to run faster, this is a perfect race before the World Championships because we can make a plan for next week based on this race,” she said before her duel with Olympic champion Elaine Thompson. The Muller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow stages the sixth and final event of the IAAF World Indoor Tour for 2018, with other top names like Greg Rutherford, Su Bingtian, Mariya Lasitskene and Ekaterini Stefanidi. Winners of the Tour events will be also Wild Card holders for World Indoors 2018.
Men
60m: Su Bingtian is Tour leader and favourite, having run 6.43 this year, but can he be pushed by Michael Rodgers? CJ Ujah is the GB headliner, but watch for European indoor debut of US Bryce Robinson who improved last weekend to 6.51.
400m (non Tour event): Sub-44 man Fred Kerley is the class of the field but was beaten at the US Championships and could be pushed by Luka Janezic of Slovenia.
800m: Adam Kszczot looks to make it six wins out of six this year and is already confirmed tour winner. His team mate Lewandowski will not make life easy for him.
1500m (non Tour event): Vincent Kibet (3:36.86 this season) goes along with World indoor silver medallist Jakub Holusa and 3:30 outdoor runner Bethwel Birgen. In good shape also Australian Gregson.
3000m: Hagos Gebhriwet goes for victory and Tour win. But Yomif Kejelcha and Paul Chelimo will try to challenge him.
60mH (non Tour event): US Birmingham qualifiers Eaton and Merritt against home star Pozzi.
3000 m walk (non Tour event): Expect Tom Bosworth to challenge his British record of 10:58.21, but Spain’s Diego Garcia could be dangerous.
Long jump (non Tour event): 2012 Olympic champion Greg Rutherford tries to regain his best form following injury as China’s Shi Yuhao is among the main opposition. Damar Forbes and Huang Changzhou are also in the field.
Women
60m (non Tour event): A great field includes Olympic 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson, world 200m champion Dafne Schippers and twice world 200m silver medallist Marie Jose Taa Lou, while Dina Asher-Smith provides the home interest.
400m: Phyllis Francis, third quickest in the world this year with 51.19, goes against London 2017 sixth-placer Stephenie-Ann McPherson, plus hurdlers Eilidh Doyle and Kaliese Spencer. Tour winner Lea Sprunger is not running.
800m (non Tour event): World and Olympic finalist Lynsey Sharp heads the field in this non-Tour event as compatriot Adelle Tracey is among the main challengers.
1500m: Beatrice Chepkoech starts favourite for the race win and Tour title, but faces Winny Chebet, Angelika Cichoka, Gesa Felicitas Krause and Gudaf Tsegay.
60m hurdles: After her US record of 7.70 at the US Championships, can Sharika Nelvis challenge the world record of 7.68. She could run close by USA third-placer Christina Manning, though. Manning with Tour win can secure her World Indoors participation.
High jump: It could simply be a case of how high can world champion Mariya Lasitskene go after her recent competitions. Home favourite Morgan Lake and Levern Spencer are well behind her.
Pole vault (non Tour event): Olympic and world outdoor champion Ekaterini Stefanidi looks for a fifth win out of five this year, facing compatriot Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou, the 2015 world indoor bronze medallist, and American Morgann Leleux.
Long jump: European indoor champion and world No.1 Ivana Spanovic is favourite, while Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta looks to rediscover form and world No.3 Khaddi Sagnia seeks to continue her improvement.
