Three important indoor athletic events took place last week in the European venues of Dusseldorf, Lodz and Karlsruhe, where international stars showcased their talents. At Dusseldorf, veteran Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Ewa Swoboda of Poland won the signature 60m sprints for men and women. At Lodz, Polish stars dominated with 23-year old shot-putter Michael Haratyk stealing the show. At Karlsruhe, Netherland’s 200m women’s world champion, Dafne Schippers won the 60m sprint to prove her credentials yet again.
In Dusseldorf on February 3, winners of 60m sprints for men and women stood in sharp contrast. In men’s 60m final, 2003 world champion Kim Collins outran everyone in 6.53 seconds. The Saint Kitts native is almost 40 years old but he ran a great race to equal the world-lead mark. Barely one-week ago, the world-lead was set by Dusseldorf’s third-placed Julien Reus of Germany. Reus finished in 6.59 seconds behind USA’s second placed Joe Morris. The contrast came in women’s 60m final, where Poland’s 18-year old Ewa Swoboda won in 7.16. On January 30, Swoboda had done the sprint in 7.13 to break the Polish national record at Luxombourg. In Dusseldorf, USA’s Barbara Pierre finished second and Netherland’s Jamile Samuel came third.
Spain’s, Orlando Ortega won men’s 60m hurdles in 7.49 to reach a World-lead, Spanish National Record and his Season’s Best performance. Frenchman Dimitri Bascou was second in 7.52 while another Frenchman Garfield Darien finished third. Women’s 60m hurdles was won by Belarus’ Alina Talay in 8.00. Germany’s Cindy Roleder was second and Britain’s Serita Solomon third.
Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic won women’s long jump with a world-lead and meeting record of 6.79m. German Alexandra Wester was second and Britain’s Shara Proctor third. Men’s pole vault was won by Greece’s Konstadinos Filippidis, who cleared 5.60m. China’s Bokai Huang was second and Canada’s Shawn Barber third. In men’s 3000m, Kenyan Augustine Choge reached the world-lead by winning in 7:39.23, while compatriot Caleb Ndiku was second. Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew finished third. Men’s 1500m also saw a world-lead with Kenya’s Elijah Manangoi winning in 3:39.77. Another Kenyan Bethwell Birgen was second and Czech Jakub Holusa third. In men’s 800m, Poland’s Adam Kszczot won in 1:46.00 , Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was second and USA’s Erik Sowinski third.
Among women, Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu won 800m in 2:01.99, Christina Hering of Germany was second and Poland’s Joanna Jozwik third. Germany’s Jenny Elbe won women’s triple jump with 14.12. Her compatriot Kristin Gierisch was second and Frenchwoman Rouguy Diallo third.
In Lodz’ Pedro Cup on February 5, Michal Haratyk, 23, stole the show by hurling his sphere to 21.35m and achieving the third highest hurl by a Pole in history. The event by swept by Poles with Spain’s fourth-placed Carlos Tobalina being the only non-Pole. 18-year old Konrad Bukowiecki finished second while Tomasz Majewski was third.
Spain’s Orlando Ortega repeated his Dusseldorf performance at Lodz by winning 60m hurdles in 7.52. Barbadian Greggmar Swift was second and Spain’s Yidiel Conteras third. In women’s 60m hurdles, Belarusian Alina Talay also repeated the Dusseldorf performance by winning in 7.97. Italy’s Giullia Pennella was second and Poland’s Karolina Koleczek third.
In men’s 60m, Cuba’s Yunier Perez won in 6.53 to equal Kim Collins’ Dusseldorf world-lead time. GBR’s Richard Kitty was second and Barbadian Cadogan third. Dusseldorf’s women 60m winner Poland’s Ewa Swoboda also won at Lodz in 7.15. Another Pole Marika Popowicz was second and GBR’s Shara Proctor third.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim leapt 2.29m to win men’s high jump. Ukraine’s Andrii Protsenko was second and Poland’s Sylwester Bednarek third. In men’s pole vault, Poland’s Piotr Lisek cleared 5.67 to finish first. Brazil’s Thiago Braz was second and Czech Michal Balner third. Poland also won women’s high jump, when Kamila Licwinko leapt 1.97m. Spain’s Ruth Beitia was second and Poland’s Urszula Gardzielewska third.
The first leg of the new IAAF World Indoor Tour was held at Karlsruhe on February 6. In men’s 60m, USA’s Mike Rodgers won with a world-leading time of 6.52 to put behind the agony of his disqualification at Dusseldorf. St. Kitts’ evergreen Kim Collins, who won at Dusseldorf was second in 6.54 and USA’s Trell Kimmons third in 6.58. In women’s 60m, Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers won in 7.08 ahead of USA’s Barbara Pierre and GBR’s Dina Asher-Smith.
Men’s 800m at Karlsruhe had the same two men as winner and runner-up as Dusseldorf. Poland’s Adam Kszczot won in 1:45.96, ahead of Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse. Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplangat Kipkoech was third. Men’s 3000m was dominated by Kenyans and Ethiopians. Kenya’s Augustine Kiprono Choge won in 7:43.22. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha was second and another Kenyan Bethwel Birgen third. In men’s pole vault, France’s world-record holder, Renaud Lavillenie won with a leap of 5.91m. Canada’s Shawnacy Barber was second and Germany’s Raphel Holzdeppe third. In men’s long jump, Germany’s Julien Howard won with a leap of 8.03; Britain’s Dan Bramble came second and France’s Salim Sdiri third. In men’s triple jump, Cuba’s Alexis Copello leapt 16.99m. Jonathan Drack of Mauritius was second and Portugal’s Nelson Evora third. Canada’s Tim Nedow won men’s shot put with a hurl of 20.89m. Romanian Andrei Gag was second and Congo’s Frank Elemba third.
Among women, USA’s Kendra Harrison won 60m hurdles in 7.86 seconds from compatriot Nia Ali. GBR’s Tiffany Porter was third. In 1500m, Axumawit Embaye won with a world-lead of 4:08.22, while Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen was second and Ireland’s Ciara Mageean third. In high jump, Germany’s Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch leapt 1.93 to finish first ahead of Ukrainian Oksana Okuneva and Norway’s Katarina Mogenburg.
After Karlsruhe, the 4-event Indoor World-Tour will continue with meets at Boston on February 14, Stockholm on February 17 and conclude with Glasgow on February 20.
