by Alfonz JuckI love the meets in Poland. In 2019, I was lucky enough to go to the Copernicus Cup in Torun (Torun celebrates Nicolas Copernicus), and loved the meet and the enthusiasm of the fans.
Ewa Swoboda, poster courtesy of Orlen Cup
It is fantastic to see Poland’s superstar, Ewa Swoboda come back so strong and Italy’s gold medalist, Marcell Jacobs, just ran the third-fastest time at 60m in 2022!
Marcell Jacobs is a rock star in Poland! Poster from Orlen Cup
Some quick sprinting!
Swoboda 7.00, Jacobs 6.49
LODZ (POL, Feb 11): Orlen Cup in Atlas Arena of Lodz (WIT Silver) celebrated great come back of home sprinter Ewa Swoboda. She competed for the first time after one competition last summer and a short indoor campaign last winter. Her heat was a first shock: 7.04 World lead and national record. But in finals 7.00 another WL and NR, tied 10th best ever performer. Second Zaynab Dosso equaled Italian record from 1983 with 7.19 and third Claudia Payton from Sweden 7.24 PB. Olympic winner Marcell Jacobs equaled his European lead in heats 6.51 and also improved in finals to 6.49 EL and tied 3rd best in the World 2022. Second veteran Mike Rodgers 6.62. Universiade medalist Reeta Hurske from Finland won women hurdles in 7.93 over Klaudia Siciarz who started the season with 8.11. Men’s hurdles final was more dramatic as South American record holder Rafael Perreira won in 7.58 over Damian Czykier’s 7.62. US Jarret Eaton was fastest in heats with 7.55 but after a bad start ended 5th in 7.70. Spanish world-class Orlando Ortega in the season opener clocked 7.76 as sixth. Konrad Bukowiecki in the first attempt improved his EL to 21.39 and won the shot put ahead of Zane Weir 21.02 and Michal Haratyk 20.92. Ernest Obiena dominated in the pole vault with 581 and had first failures of the evening twice at 590 and once at 595. Behind him Thiago Braz and Piotr Lisek, both 571. Fourth Matvey Volkov improved to 561 which was the Belarus U20 indoor record. Andriy Protsenko from Ukraine won high jump with 225.
