by Stuart Weir
Marya Bekh-Romanchuk goes 6.92m, taking the gold, photo by European Athletics
Malaika Mihambo takes silver with her 6.88m, photo by European Athletics
Khaddi Sagnia takes the bronze, photo by European Athletics
The women’s long jump was an amazing competition on Day 2. The last round had a huge 6.92m jump by Marya Bekh-Romanchuk, taking the lead from Malaika Mihambo, who had led with her 6.88m, until the big leap. Stuart Weir wrote his 4th piece of the day on the women’s LJ, an exciting competition.
Long jump
The women’s long jump competition was an event in which the quality was matched by the drama. Those who introduced the nonsense in the Diamond League program of long jump competitions not being won by the longest jump, please take note of how the traditional format produced a tantalizing climax. The quality was there, with four athletes jumping beyond 6.70 and the finish had a sting in the tale.
Malaika Mihambo, photo by European Athletics
My only disappointments – and I expect a lot! – were that neither of the British girls had made the final, but then both of them are terribly short of competition this year. My second disappointment was that Larissa Iapichino, who had leaped to 6.91 last month, could only manage 6.59 for fifth place. Larissa, incidentally, is the daughter of Fiona May, the former British and Italian long jumper.
Marya Bekh-Romanchuk goes 6.92m, photo by European Athletics
The competition entered the final round with Malaika Mihambo leading with 6.88. I know it’s a cliché but they say “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Only yesterday Mihambo set off on her final jump in the qualifying competition outside the top eight and she did the business. Today, in the final, she produced what seemed like the winning jump. Marya Bekh-Romanchuk, (Ukraine), was in fourth place in the final round and out of the medals. With her final jump, she produced a world-leading 6.92m. But Mihambo had one jump left; Maryna sat on the floor and watched. Mihambo produced an excellent jump which was measured from the front for the board at 6.72. However, a TV replay showed that Mihambo had not touched the board – she had taken off 29cm behind the limit. She had jumped far enough but had got her run-up wrong.
Marya Bekh-Romanchuk goes 6.92m, taking the gold, photo by European Athletics
The winner commented: “It was a perfect evening, I am very happy. It is my first gold medal, I couldn’t imagine a better competition. Before the last jump, I was very focused, I knew I am well prepared and despite the short indoor season, I achieved a fantastic result. I really like competing in Torun. Last year I beat my personal best here, today I am European Champion with new personal best, again in Torun. I will come back here next year for sure”.
Malaika Mihambo, photo by European Athletics
Mihambo commented: “It was an exciting competition till the end. It’s a pity that I could not respond in the last round. In training, I need to improve my run-up to feel better. Today it only was enough for silver. The others have done really well. It was a good competition. Today for sure the run-up was better than yesterday, but I was still too often too far away from the board. My departure to America, to train with Carl Lewis, has been postponed till after the Olympics. The goal for this summer is to improve my run-up and to get in good shape and be able to show it off. This indoor season I couldn’t yet show what I am worth. But with 6.88 I could already somehow show what I am capable of”
Malaika Mihambo, photo by European Athletics
On another day Khaddi Sagnia’s, 6.75m could have been a winning jump and until the final round, it was the silver medal position. She commented: “I am really happy with the medal because it proves that all the sweat, tears, and hard work behind that pay off. It’s my first major championships medal. I was hoping to get a higher result but it didn’t come today but it will come next time. The first step was to take the medal today. Thank you to everybody who is supporting me all these years, this medal is for you”.
Khaddi Sagnia, photo by European Athletics
