NATIONAL INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (Tamgho WR)

FRANCE (Aubiere): Top highlight of the weekend happened here as improved his own world indoor record from 2010 by 1 cm to 17.91. It happened in fourth round. He started with two fouls, then 17.36 in third, and after record mark still produced 17.58 and 17.08. After the competition he said that in Bercy he is not expecting another record because he will concentrate on wining. His appearance in is still possible. In good depth 21 years old Yoann Rapinier improved hugely from 16.69 to 17.02, third achieved 16.92.

Triple European champion improved his earlier shape to 6.58 at 60 m what is second fastest in Europe this year. Second Martial Mbandjock 6.66 and third Ronald Pognon 6.70. Another gold medal contender will be in Bercy the 400 m winner Leslie Dhjone who clocked European leading time 2011 46.13. Strong relay for as second Yoann Decimus posted 46.31, third Ansoumane Fofana 46.71, fourth Marc Macedot 46.72 and even B-final winner Mamoudou-Eliman Hanne 46.49.

Dimitri Bascou again improved at 60 m hurdles to 7.52. Jeff Lastennet won the 800 m in 1:48.49 and Gael Querin scored 5923 points in , but will not be considered for European indoors as France has already two invited athletes based on 2010 results (El Fassi and Geffraouis). European champion Myriam Soumare won the 60 m in impressive 7.19 ahead of Veronique Mang 7.23. Veteran Christine Arron was 6th (7.42). Former European gold medalist Muriel Hurtis won the 400 m (53.67).

ITALY (): Italian jumpers headlined day-two of the 42nd edition of the national event. jumped 17.00 to win the men’s triple jump without who felt a cramp during the long jump and decided to avoid any risk and pulled out of the triple. equalled her SB of 14.33 in the women’s triple jump with a solid series of jumps which also included 14.31, 14.30, 14.15 and 14.12.

Italian Under 23 champion produced the major upset of day two by winning the final ahead of European Indoor bronze medallist in 6.71 to 6.72. Di Gregorio posted fastest of the day 6.68 in heats.

Nicola Ciotti cleared a winning 2.25 to take the men’s title. Thirty-four year-old Ciotti, who jumped a seasonal best of 2.28 in Banska Bystrica this year, produced a clean sheet up to 2.25. He then failed one attempt at 2.27 and two tries at the Italian Indoor record of 2.32.

Former European Indoor bronze medallist made a winning come- back in the women’s 3000 metres in 9:22.40 in her first track race after a difficult 2010 season in which she was sidelined by injury problems.

Former European 100 and bronze medallist Manuela Levorato, who is enjoying a good season two years after giving birth to her daughter Giulia, won a slow 60 metres final in 7.44, which was a below-par result compared to her 7.31 set at the end of January in Chemnitz. With help from Diego Sampaolo.

POLAND (Spala): world champion Anna Rogowska confirmed solid shape with 461 pole vault clearance, Monika Pyrek already ended her indoor season. In dramatic 60 m hurdles Dominik Bochenek beat in 7.74 highly rated Artur Noga 7.79.

World indoor medalist Adam Kszczot won the 800 m in 1:48.0. -bound Lukasz Parszczynski won the 3000 m in 7:57.66. Interesting situation in the 400 m as B-final winner Mateusz Formanski (47.50) was faster than A-final top Marcin Marciniszyn (47.57). Anna Kielbasinska clocked 200 m personal best 23.62. Surprise in tactical 1500 m race when Danuta Urbanik (4:25.66) beat (4:26.69). Agnieszka Dygacz won the 3000 m walk in life fastest 12:56.76.

SPAIN (): Manuel Olmedo won tactical 1500 m race full of European indoor medalists in 3:45.93 ahead of Diego Ruiz 3:45.96 and Juan Carlos Higuero 3:46.14. Also 800 m final was a tactical affair won by Luis Alberto Marco 1:50.42 ahead of Kevin Lopez 1:50.71.

Marc Orozco won the 400 m in 47.29 and Felipe Vivancos 60 m hurdles in 7.71 (and 7.69 in semis). Talented Vicente Docavo registered in triple jump new national U23 and junior record 16.61. From women events to note the 657 of Concepcio Montaner in long jump and 7.31 at 60 m from Digna Luz Murillo.

GREECE (Peania): Those patient enough to stay until the very end of the 2nd day of the championships were rewarded with the opportunity to witness Konstadínos Filippídis adding yet another cm to his week-old national pole vault record. The new figure is now 5.72 and his last effort at 5.82 left hopes that he may raise the record higher.

Both triple jump events lived up to the expectations. On the men’s side Dimítrios Tsiámis bettered his season best to 17.06, just 6 cm short of his own indoor record, while on the women’s Paraskeví Papahrístou had another convincing victory with 14.28, leaving behind her Athanasía Pérra, whose 14.20 earned her a place in the Paris team. Níki Panéta was third with 13.91.

Other noteworthy performances were recorded in both 800 m races, where Konstadínos Nakópoulos clocked 1:49.78, but missed again the Paris standard, and Eléni Filándra, already a Paris qualifier, confirmed her shape with 2:04.00 in an almost solo race. 19-year-old Anastasía Karakatsáni broke the second oldest indoor junior record winning the 3000m with 9:32.33.

Adonía Steryíou won the high jump with 1.86 on countback from Persefóni Hatzinákou, missing narrowly the 1.90 standard on her third attempt. The winner in the men’s heptathlon was Andréas Tsoúkalis with a new personal best of 5546 points. Overall there are 14 athletes who have achieved the standards for Paris so far, though pole vaulter Ekateríni Stefanídi has already stated that she will skip the European Indoors in order to compete in the NCAA finals. Informs Thomas Constas.

CZECH REPUBLIC (Praha): No new Paris standard in the Stromovka hall today. Already qualified Jaroslav Baba went over 224 in high jump and tried at 231 cm. 800 m qualifier Lenka Masna won the 1500 m (4:26.62).

Versatile Zuzana Hejnova who is 400 m hurdles specialist won the 200 m in 24.17. Last year junior Pavel Maslak who qualified on Saturday at 400 m to Paris won the 200 m in 21.38 (and 21.33 in heats).

Jan Kudlicka tried after clearing 540 in pole vault at Paris standard 560 but no success. star Roman Sebrle tested his shape in pole vault (465), (14.99) and ran second leg of winning Dukla Praha 4x400 m relay.

BELGIUM (Gent): Elisabeth Davin comfortably achieved the 60m (7.38) and 60m hurdles (8.13) double. Adrien Deghelt confirmed his top shape with a 7.64 win in the 60m hurdles. Junior Arnaud Art managed a very solid 530 in the pole vault while Hannelore De Smet confirmed her good shape with a 188 win in the high jump. Dutch Rutger Smith made guest appearance and easily won the shot put with 19.95.

IRELAND (Belfast): Odyssey Arena saw the victory of Mark English in the 800m with a time of 1:51.62 just ahead of this season sub 1:48 runner Darren McBrearty (1:52.08) and Niall Tuohy (1:52.06). Mary Cullen got the women’s 1,500m title in 4:19.25 just in front of Orla Drumm (4:23.55) and talented Ciara Mageean (18, 4:26.76).

Kelly Proper managed the long jump (622) and 200m (24.08) double. Brian Gregan easily took the 400m in 47.01. Ailis McSweeney prolonged her title with a new PB in the 60m of 7.32 and missed the national record only by 0.02.

FINLAND (): Superb national junior record for 17-years old Ella Rasanen with 24.13 at 200 m. Sandra Eriksson clocked 9:17.81 at 3000 m. In men events Jere Bergius cleared 540 in pole vault and Otto Kilpi won the long jump with 773 cm.

BULGARIA (): Nikolay Atanasov won his 9th long jump title with 784 cm. World junior finalist in 2004 Radoslava Mavrodieva improved in women shot put to 17.54 m.

DENMARK (Skive): Norwegian guest Cathrine Larsasen cleared 435 cm in pole vault what is new national indoor record and equalled her overall Norwegian mark from European Championships. Solid Danish male results from Anders Moller in triple jump (16.69), Kim Christensen in shot put (19.43), Martin Krabbe in the 60 m (6.79) and young Jannick Klausen in high jump (220).

SLOVAKIA (Bratislava): Jaroslav Dobrovodsky leaped to new national long jump record with 780 cm. In women long jump duel of two Barcelona finalists Renata Medgyesova beat Jana Veldakova with 652 to 632 cm. For Medgyesova this means also Paris qualifier. Dobrovodsky missed it by 5 cm.

HUNGARY (): Best male result by hurdler Balazs Baji with 7.82 (and 7.81 in heats). Women 3000 m walk produced 12:46.44 by Eszter Gerendasi.

SLOVENIA (Celje): Remaining event was shot put where Serbian guest Asmir Kolasinac won with 19.96 ahead of home national record holder Miro Vodovnik who qualified to Paris with 19.05.

SWITZERLAND (St. Gallen): Beatrice Lundmark won the high jump with 188 and tried to equal the national record at 192 cm. Alexander Hochuli with 16.28 in triple jump missed the Paris standard by only 2 cm.

EME NEWS (FEB 20, 2011)