by Alfonz Juck
Laura Muir is doubling in Belgrade, will she take home two golds? Photo by Getty/British Athletics
We are less than ten hours from the start of the 2017 European Indoor Athletics Championships. Here is the preview, event by event, short and sweet, by EME News.
Top facility should deliver great results
BELGRADE (SRB): European indoors will be held for first time in Serbia. EA President Svein Arne Hansen said “this is the best, the most fantastic facility I have ever seen. Now we have to see if the track is fast and as good as it looks.” The modern top facility Kombank Arena was since early January transformed to top place for athletics. There is second biggest number of countries competing, home hopes are orientated towards long jumper Ivana Spanovic. Despite 2017 beeing post-olympic year the quality of the events is very promising. At least 25 International Broadcasters from across the continent will be televising the event. The number of intended broadcast hours (330) is already more than the actual broadcast duration (which includes live, delayed, repeat coverage) of any previous European Athletics Indoor Championships. European Athletics will also stream live on the www.european-athletics.org homepage with English-language commentary. Also it will be first European Indoors without Russia.
EVENT BY EVENT SHORT PREVIEW
MEN
60 m: Who can attack the Brits headed by title defender Kilty?
400 m: Hattrick for Maslak expected, behind him Husillos and Janezic.
800 m: Kszczot is a clear bet, is Tuka in shape of Beijing 2015?
1500 m: Younger Ingebrigtsen with Lewandowski, but also runners like Benitz, Kazi and Swedish duo with good chances. Usual tactical race with strong last lap?
3000 m: Ibrahimov (2013 winner) vs Kaya (2015 winner), can H. Ingebrigtsen stay with them?
60mH: Pozzi beat Ortega in Karlsruhe clearly, but do not understimate hurdles and Olympic medalist. Also PML and Baji to be mentioned.
HJ: Bednarek vs Seliverstau, is Grabarz shape growing enough?
PV: Lisek despite recent accident still to be considered as the main favorite. Direct final with two jumpers from Greece, France, Poland and Germany.
LJ: This is very open, Torneus is defender but not enough quality yet, Caceres the usual suspect but watch for Italian trio and home support for Anic.
TJ: On one side French junior Raffin, on the other Italian Donato. In-between anything possible.
SP: This is high quality. Storl vs Bukowiecki, but home support for Kolasinac and on the paper Czech duo too.
Hept: Oly medalist Mayer with home hope Dudas did not complete a heptathlon yet, from this season Urena and Helcelet.
4×400 m: Look for Belgian Tornados (no individual races), but Poland always good and in case Maslak will get it not too far behind?
WOMEN
60 m: Very open. Brits, Germans, Povkh, Swoboda, list leader Okparaebo.
400 m: Battle of hurdles specialists, Sprunger vs Hejnova vs Doyle.
800 m: Buchel to defend, time for senior success by Hinriksdottir?
1500 m: Muir part one, behind Klosterhalfen with Ennaoui, Bahta and public support for Terzic.
3000 m: Muir part two, here it looks even more clearer.
60mH: Germans Dutkiewicz and Roleder will try to spoil the hattrick plan of Talay.
HJ: The top clash of women events, Oly winner Beitia, World indoor champ Licwinko and list leader Palsyte.
PV: Rio gold medalist Stefanidi in direct final with top chances. Bengtsson looks to be in right time in right shape.
LJ: Spanovic to get the top applause in Kombank Arena. Ugen and Sawyers can also jump far (sing). Klishina the only Russian.
TJ: Mamona won the IAAF Tour, Papahristou has medals from Portland and Amsterdam.
SP: Very good chance for Marton to defend from Praha.
Pent: Olympic winner Thiam the main star, Shukh for another U20 WR?
4×400: Britain vs Poland, a top duel expected.
