Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia) sets new 1,500m women’s indoor world record pending, in ( 3:53.09!@Meeting_Lievin, 9 Feb 2021, @stuartweir, @britathletics, @EuroAthletics, @HuguesZango_TS, photo by Maxime Delobel, @athleticsafrica, #worldathletics, , #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, pic.twitter.com/DJFI5hJxoI
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) February 10, 2021
Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais, aka @meeting_lieven, was, well, spectacular. The meet was the best in the year, with one amazing event, then another.
EME News puts it all in perspective, two plus hours celebrating athletics!
Javianne Oliver, photo by Maxine Dolobel
EME NEWS (FEB 9, 2021)
Tsegay, Holloway, Wale, Jakob
LIEVIN (FRA, Feb 9): The Lievin Meeting proved to be the best on the indoor scene. The results showed athletes are well prepared. World Indoor record was registered in women 1500 m, another one was only closely missed in men´s 3000 m. European record was achieved in men´s 1500 m and North American record in men´s 60 m hurdles. Women 2000 m steeple brought all-time best. Meet records fell in 7 events, nearly half of the 16 organised. Also World leads in 7 events and additional European leads in 5 events. Several Olympic gold medal contenders or favorites for European Indoors in 2021 were seen on the stage.
Event by event
Men
60 m: Italian Jacobs clocked twice 6.54 in heats and finals, twice also PB and EL 2021. He beat overseas opposition. Second veteran Rodgers 6.60.
800 m: Briton Elliot Giles is in top shape after win in Karlsruhe and PB over 1500 m in Metz. This time he destroyed the rest in another EL 1:45.49. Second Tuwei was behind by 1.39 (1:46.88)
1500 m: Jakob Ingebrigtsen in possibly his only indoor race stormed to European indoor record 3:31.80 (also MR taken from El Guerrouj 3:32.01 in 1998). The previous of Andres Diaz 3:33.32 was set in 1999, when he was not yet born. Other 10 runners went sub 3:40.
3000 m: Race was planned for Barega, and he did very well 7:26.10 (before only Daniel Komen´s WR was better), but his group-mate and steepler Getnet Wale surprised him with 7:24.98 win only 0.08 behind the WR. And third Girma 7:27.98. Best European 7th Foppen 7:42.55 Dutch record.
60mH: Grant Holloway comes from another World with his smooth style. Easy heat 7.38 MR promised something for the final and it happened: 7.32 second best ever, North American record and only 0.02 behind the WR.
PV: Duplantis remains unbeaten but it was close after 586 clearance he did not continue, but also Nilsen and Lavillenie could not clear 592.
LJ: World champion Echevarria saved himself in last attempt, which was World lead 825, European champ Tentoglou lead until then with 821 EL.
TJ: WR holder Zango had only one good attempt but his 17.82 from round five was not only MR (taken from his coach) but also 7th best ever result indoor.
Women
60 m: US Oliver is after Metz winning again, and again in 7.10. Santos as second equaled Brazilian record 7.17.
800 m: Reekie in season opener had a fast and also good tactical win 2:00.64. Alemu in 2:00.86 and Hynne Norwegian record 2:00.92 followed. Young World leader Hodkingson was fourth 2:01.71.
1500 m: The race of the evening as Gudaf Tsegay followed the superfast pacemakers. After early fast time in Addis she is in shape of her life and improved the WR to 3:53.09, 8th fastest ever in our out. Great British record and EL by Laura Muir 3:59.58 looked to be way back. Fourth Vanderelst Belgian record 4:05.71. Splits: 400 58.97, 800 2:05.94, 1000 2:37.36. Next race for Tsegay – 800 m in Val de Reuil on Sunday.
3000 m: Lemlem Hailu who will be 20 only in May topped the field surprisingly in 8:32.55 WL and MR. World champion Hassan followed 8:33.62 EL along with steeple WR holder Chepkoech 8:34.21 indoor PB.
2000msteeple: Doha steeple 4th place Winfried Yavi of Bahrein clocked all-time best 5:45.09 over previous best holder Slovenian Marusa Mismas-Zrimsek 5:48.71. This times are faster than outdoor WB 5:52.80, but indoors it is without a water barrier.
60mH: Thousands decided between top 3 as all clocked 7.91. Dutch Visser over WR holder Clemons and Neziri who equalled her Finnish record.
PV: British record holder Holly Bradshaw as only one cleared 473 and that was enough to win. Olympic winner Stefanidi better than in Rouen with 463 as second.
SP: Torun medal favorites in the same order like in Karlsruhe – Dongmo 19.18 over Schwanitz 18.93.
