by Alfonz Juck
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— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) February 17, 2021
This is the EME news updates on the 2021 Copernicus Cup. I love this meet. I visited it in 2019. The arena is excellent, as is the MONDO track. And even without an audience, The Copernicus Cup was excellent.
Giles 1:43.63, three high jumpers over 234
TORUN (POL, Feb 17): The 7th edition of international indoor meet Copernicus Cup on the site of European indoors in two weeks, brought excellent series of top results. Even without spectators, in six out of 12 events World leading marks 2021 were set, also in 9 from 12 events new meeting records (only women 60 m, shot put and pole vault had no MR). British middle distance runner Elliott Giles shocked with second best ever indoor time in the 800 m at sub 1:44 level, Ethiopian runners celebrated three wins, one home win in shot put and many European indoors favorites showed great shape. For example Dutch hurdler Femke Bol with another 400 m improvement what was not only European lead 2021 but also overall Dutch record. Also Javianne Oliver in 60 m and Gianmarco Tamberi secured their wins in the World Indoor Tour 2021 what means 10 000 USD prize money and Wild Card for Belgrade 2022 World Indoors. Rest of the events will be decided in Madrid (only shot put was decided already in Lievin for Auriol Dongmo).
Short event by event review
Men
800m – An incredible run from Elliot Giles who ran the second fastest time in history indoors with 1:43.63. Only Wilson Kipketer has run faster indoors with his long-standing world record of 1:42.67. Giles led a British one-two with Jamie Webb second in a 1:44.54 PB with Sweden’s Andreas Kramer third, in a Swedish record of 1:45.09. Adam Kszczot improved to 1:45.22 in fourth.
1500m – Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega broke loose in the last two laps to win in a lifetime best of 3:32.97 by nearly three seconds from Marcin Lewandowski who improved his Polish indoor record to 3:35.71. World finalist Neil Gourley was third also in a PB of 3:35.79, Czech Filip Sasinek as fifth 3:36.53 national record.
60m hurdles – Despite previous three fast starts, world champion Grant Holloway from the United States won in 7.38 by nearly two-tenths from France’s Wilhem Belocian in 7.57.
High jump – Excellent quality competition with Maksim Nedasekau setting an indoor lifetime best and Belarusian indoor record of 2.34m to defeat Ukraine’s Andriy Protsenko and Gianmarco Tamberi from Italy on countback. This was Protsenko’s best clearance since 2014 and Tamberi’s best since Monaco 2016. And best high jump since 2019 Doha Worlds.
Pole vault – Sam Kendricks won on countback at 5.80m from Piotr Lisek and Ernest Obiena in second and third respectively.
Shot put – Michal Haratyk extended his win streak on home soil with 21.47m ahead of Tomas Stanek with 21.20m.
Women
60m – United States’ Javianne Oliver maintained her good form with victory in 7.08 to equal the world lead to defeat Ajla Del Ponte (7.15) and home favourite and reigning European indoor champion Ewa Swoboda (7.16 SB).
800m – Habitam Alemu ran a solo indoor lifetime best of 1:58.19 to move to second on the 2021 world list behind Ethiopian teammate Gudaf Tsegay. Joanna Jozwik returned to form with a runner-up finish in 2:00.42 with Nadia Power third in another Irish record of 2:00.98.
400m – Femke Bol won in a lifetime best and outright Dutch record and European lead of 50.66. Justyna Swiety-Ersetic clocked 51.80 on her season’s debut with Bol’s training partner Lieke Klaver fading to third in 51.92. Lea Sprunger won the first race in 52.38.
3000m – Ethiopia’s Lemlem Hailu improved her world lead to 8:31.24, outsprinting Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech on the last lap in 8:31.72 PB. Genzebe Dibaba dropped out in the first kilometre apparently due to an injury, the first 1k was covered in under world record pace at 2:44. Viktoria Wagner-Gyurkes as fourth in 8:55.45 clocked Hungarian record.
60m hurdles – After 7.91 in the heat, United States’ Christina Clemons improved to 7.81 in the final to regain her world lead. Poles Karolina Koleczek and Pia Skrzyszowska were second and third with PBs of 7.98 and 8.00 respectively.
Triple jump – European outdoor champion Paraskevi Papahristou went out to an indoor lifetime best and world lead of 14.60m in the fifth round to defeat Belarus’ Violetta Skvartsova who set an outright lifetime best of 14.39m in the second round.
