by Alfonz Juck
Ta Lou 7.02 WL, J. Ingebrigtsen 3:36.02 World U20 indoor record
DUSSELDORF (GER, Feb 20): Final meet of the 4th IAAF World Indoor Tour PSD Bank Meeting (capacity crowd 2000 spectators) was highlighted by 60 m World Lead 2019 (and meet record with PB) 7.02 by Marie-Josee Ta Lou who after season best 7.14 in heats gave the first loss of 2019 to Ewa Swoboda 7.10. Another top higlight was the men´s 1500 m where winning Jakob Ingebritgsen achieved not only World U20 record but also national record 3:36.02. Second in his first loss ever indoors at 1500 m WR holder Samuel Tefera 3:36.34 and third Filip Ingebritgsen indoor PB 3:38.62. Asian high jump duel saw Naoto Tobe remaining unbeaten indoors 2019 and winning on count back over Yu Wang, both 234, for Chinese national indoor record and overall PB, also meet record for both. Anzhelika Sidorova set a meet record of 4.77m to win the Tour title in the pole vault. Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou was second with 4.67m, five centimetres more than third-placed Ekaterini Stefanidi.
The view from media stand, 2019 PSD Bank Meeting Dusseldorf, 20 Feb 2019, photo by Larry EderControversy surrounded the heats of 60 m hurdles as Jarret Eaton was disqualified for a false start, while Orlando Ortega after similar starting reaction at 0.07 (0.10 allowed) level in the second was allowed to run and ultimately progress despite initially being shown a red card for a false start. After protest the final was moved to after high jump slot and Ortega beat Milan Trajkovic of Cyprus by 0.003 (7.515 to 7.518). Habitam Alemu secured maximum points in the Tour with another win in the 800m. Clocking 2:00.70 she convincingly stretched away from Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (2:02.25). Oscar Husillos won the first 400m final in 46.96, but his result was surpassed in the second final by Nathan Strother (46.48) who became Tour winner and Pavel Maslak (46.73). Yulimar Rojas secured the all-but-certain tour win in the triple jump, registering 14.46m to beat Patricia Mamona (14.22m) into second. Outside of the tour events, Su Bingtian was a convincing winner of the 60m, just outside of his world lead with 6.49, with Bryce Robinson second and Mike Rodgers third, both in 6.57. Also not on the tour, the two 800m races were won by Andreas Kramer (1:48.19) and Alvaro de Arriba (1:46.63) respectively. German Christina Schwanitz confirmed her tour win with another first place in shot put (19.14).
The @runblogrun tour of the IAAF World Indoor Tour, aka Le Tour de Larry, is sponsored by USATF and Nike, reminding you that the 2019 USATF Indoor Championships are February 22, 23, and 24 at the Ocean Breeze AC, on Staten Island. To purchase tickets, please use this link:
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