by Larry Eder
European Athletics Indoor Championships
March 4, 2011
Palais de Omnisport
Paris-Bercy
Session 1
Christina Vukicevic of Norway, the 60m hurdle leaders, photo by Bob Ramsak/IAAF
60m Hurdles Women, Round 1
heat 1: Alina Talai , Belarus, 8.06q, PB, Lisa Urech, Switzerland, 8.07q, Lucie Skrobakova, Czech Republic, 8.17q, Alice Decaux, France, 8.22q
heat 2: Christina Vukicevic, Norway, 7.95, Q, Fastest, Tiffany Ofili, Great Britian, 8.05q, Cindy Roleder, Germany, 8.09, q, Marina Tomic, Slovenia, 8.18q
heat 3: Aleksandra Antonova, Russia, 8.11, q, Sandra Gomis, France, 8.12q, Katsiaryna Paplauskaya, Belarus, 8.19q=Seasonal Best, Nadine Hildebrand, Germany, 8.20, q
heat 4: Carolin Nytra, Germany, 7.96q, Derval O’Rourke, Ireland, 8.07q, Elisabeth Davin, Belarus, 8.08q=SB, Anastasiya Solovyova, Russia, 8.11q,
Comments: No big surprises here! Christina Vukicevic of Norway leads the qualifiers in 7.95.
Svetlana Bolshakova of Russia, a real medal threat, did not make the final! photo by PhotoRun.net.
Triple Jump, Women, Qualifying
Eight qualifiers made the final. But the story is, who did not qualify! Svetlana Bolshakova of Russia, Katja Demut of Germany, and Pareskevi Papahristou of Greece, all serious medal contenders, did not qualify. Bolshakova jumped 13.52m, 13.59m and 13.83 to finish 13th. Demut jumped 13.81m, 13.57m and 13.50m, to finish fifteenth and Papahristou jumped 13.72m on her second attempt, fouling on the first and third attempts!
Natalya Kutyakova of Russia, jumped 13.82m, 13.87m and finally, 14.44m for a personal best and also the top qualifier. Second qualifier was Simona La Mantia, of Italy, who jumped 14.00m, then 14.38m, then fouled on her third attempt-her 14.38m gave her the second best qualifier.
Dana Veldakova of Slovak Republic fouled in round 1, and jumped 14.27m on her second attempt-she held on for third best qualifier. Snezana Rodic of Slovania jumped 14.25m on her first attempt, and did not take anything else, as she jumped a personal best and hit the auto qualifier.
In fifth qualifier, Petia Dacheva of Bulgaria jumped 13.85m, 13.10m, and 14.20m on her third attempt to hit the fifth position. In sixth, Olesya Zabara of Russia jumped 14.13m on her first attempt, got the auto qualifier of 14.00m, and did not jump again.
In seventh, Cristina Bujin of Romania jumped 14.13 on her first attempt, made the auto qualifier and did not jump anymore. In eighth, Athanasia Perra of Greece jumped 13.90m, 14.01m and 13.85, her second attempt giving her the 14.01 mark and an auto-qualifier.
The triple jump is one of the most grueling events on one’s body. Kutyakova may be the prohibitive favorite, but I am wondering about La Mantia as well!
Big Surprise here was the non qualifying of Katja Demut of Germany, who could only finish fifteenth in the qualifying with 13.81m. Demut noted ” I really do not know what happened with me in the qualification. I thought that the second attempt was quite OK, but it was not long enough. I have no answer on why I did not manage to qualify today. I am very disappointed.”
Svetlana Bolshakova of Belarus also did not qualify, and here is what she had to say in the Mixed Zone: ” The good news is that I was able to jump with no pain, but it was not enough for the final. The track was not good for me, it bounced too much. I would have needed more competitions before, but It was just not possible after my operation. Life goes on. I always said that the main goal is Daegu next summer. ”
Ralf Bartels,2009 Euro Indoors in Torino, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Shot Put Qualifying, Men
Gaetan Bucki of France, to the thrill of the enthusiastic crowd, lead the qualifying, with a 20.39m on his first throw.
Bucki commented aftewards, ” I am very satisfied. My goal was to get my qualification with just one throw, to keep all my energy before the final. It’s done with a new PB of 20.39m. It was a good job.. The shape is there, my technique is adjusted. Now, I will have to rest well, because the final will be intense in a more academic competition.”
In second, was Marco Fortes of Portugal, who threw 19.98m, 19.37m, then popped a 20.34m National record and the second best qualifier.
In third, Germany’s Ralf Bartels, the old man of the shot, hit 20.33m for his first throw and an auto qualifier.
Bartels made it clear what he wants in Paris-Bercy! ” I was here in 2003 and was fifth, so, I want to improve on this result. I love Paris, it is a beautiful town and I hope I will have a chance to visit Eiffel tower after my competition. I think I can show 21 meters in the final. Definitely, I am in 21 meter shape. But the most important thing is a medal!”
In fourth, Maksim Sidorov of Russia threw 20.19m. In fifth, Nedzad Mulabegovic of Croatia thrw 19.80m, 19.80m and 20.05 to get his auto qualifier. In sixth, David Storl of Germany threw 20.01 on his second attempt. Seventh qualifier was Marco Schmidt of Germany who threw 19.93 on his first attempt and had two fouls. Final qualifier was Ivan Yushkov of Russia, with throws of 19.75m, then 19.68m, then a fould. His 19.75m got Yushkov the last qualifying position for the men’s shot put final.
Vania Stambolova of Bulgaria, 2006 Euro Outdoors, Goteborg, photo by PhotoRun.net
400 meters, Women’s qualifying
Heat 1: Vania Stambolova of Bulgaria won heat 1 in 53.05. Janin Lind
eberg of Germany was second in 53.43 and Nataliya Lupu of the Ukraine was third in 53.72. They were the auto qualifiers. In fourth, Meliz Redif of Turkey, who ran 54.63 and Patricia Lopes of Portugal, who ran 54.94, also moved on.
Heat 2: Olesya Krasnomovets of Russia won heat 2 in 53.75. Hanna Tashpulatava of Belarus was second in 54.26 and Hanna Titimets of the Ukraine was third in 54.49, for the auto qualifiers. In fourth, Pinar Saka of Turkey ran 54.87 and moved on by time.
Heat 3: Kseniya Zadorina of Russia won the third heat in 54.25. Denisa Rosalova of the Czech Republic was second in 54.41 with Marta Milani of Italy were the three qualifiers from heat 3.
Audio fun! http://www.european-athletics.org/paris-2011-audio.html We suggest checking out interviews today of Rui Silva of Portugal and Denisa Rosolova of the Czech Republic!
Richard Buck, 2009 Euro Indoor, Torino, photo by PhotoRun.net.
400 meters, Men’s qualifying
The big deal here is that all three from Great Britain and two from France made it to the next round. Watch for a battle royale in the men’s 4 x 400 meters!
Heat 1: Richard Buck of Great Britain took this heat, running 46.57 to qualify (first two, next fastest). Yoan Decimus of France had the crowd pushing him, running 46.90 to move on, and Mark Ujakpor of Spain took third in 47.31.
Heat 2: Richard Strachan of Great Britain won heat 2 in 47.54, with Ansoumane Fofana of France in second in 47.89. In fourth, Endrick Zilbershtein of Georgia, set a NR of 48.07. ( Only two qualified from this heat).
Heat 3: Thomas Schneider of Germany won in heat 3, with a time of 47.10. In second, Clemens Zeller of Austria, ran 47.74 for second place as only two moved on from this heat.
Heat 4: Nigel Levine of Great Britain won heat 4, running 47.73, with David Gollinow of Germany was second in 47.74.
Heat 5: Leslie Djhone of France, the man who could win the whole race here, looked good in his heat, winning in 46.63. Djhone is the French record holder and has made finals in Paris 2003, Athens 2004, Osaka 2007, Beijing 2008, Berlin 2009. In Barcelona last summer, Djhone lead at 300 meters, only to be passed by five runners!
Leslie Djhone, 2006 Euro Indoors, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Djhone noted after the race: ” I respected my coach’s orders: run easy and stay strong. Time is ok. I tried to run as easily as I could, but in the same time I did not want to keep too much. You have to get in the competition, it is not so easy. I got a look at my opponents: Levine looks good. But, we will know more tonight.”
Dmitry Buryak of Russia was second in 46.84 and Dmtryo Ostrovskyy of the Ukraine took third in 47.33 for the final qualifier.
Mo Farah, 2010 European Champion, 5,000m/10,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
3,000 meters, Men, Qualifying
heat 1:
These heats are always tactical. Sergey Ivanov of Russia lead the first kilometer in 2:45.28, with Mo Farah off the back. In the second kilometer, Mo Farah lead, hitting the 2, 000m mark in 5:31.70, almost even pace. Daniele Meucci, Francisco Javier Alves of Spain, Rui Silva of Portugal and Mo Farah took off over the last kilometer. Silva, Meucci went by Farah with less than a lap to go and Farah just flew on by, taking the first heat in 8:0236. Rui Silva of Portugal was second in 8:02.89 and Daniele Meucci of Italy was third qualifier from this heat, in 8:02.71.
After the race, Mo Farah noted his feelings after his heat: ” I did what I had to do and I am gald to fulfill my goal-to be in the final. WE will see tomorrow and hopefully, I will be back and very fast. I feel relaxed and I am ready for the fight. I know the guys will try some tactics but it is Ok for me. The only advice I got was to do what I am used to do in trainings and take it easy.”
heat 2:
Heat 2 was no different. Siarhei Chabiarak of Bulgaria lead the first kilometer in 2:47.83, with Mert Girmalegese of Turkey leading the 2,000m mark in 5:31.10, a faster kilometer (2:44). Running the last kilometer in 2:29.8, Hayle Ibrahimov of Azbekistan, won the heat in 8:00.36. Florian Carvalho of France was second in 8:00. 90. In third was Jesus Espana, of Spain, the Euro silver medalist at 5,000m outdoors, in 8:01.56, and the final qualifier from heat 2 was Mert Girmalegesse of Turkey, who ran 8:02.12.
heat 3:
Stefano La Rosa of Italy lead through the first kilometer in 2:42.39. Yegor Nikolayev of Russia lead through 2,000m in 5:24.29. This was the fast heat.
Running the last kilometer in 2:37, with Yohan Durand of France winning in 8:01.24 and Halil Akkas of Turkey in second in 8:01.36 and Andy Baddeley of Great Britain in third in 8:01.56. In fourth, Stefano La Rosa of Italy ran 8:01.89 and in fifth, Siarhei Platonau of Belarus in the final position, running 8:02.48!
Paris-Bercy, Palais de Omnisports, March 4, 2011, photo by Larry Eder
Euro Indoors 2011. See you in three hours!
