Four World Leads in Lieven meet comeback

LIEVIN (FRA, Feb 13): The Lievin indoor meet returned after 6 years with 4 World leading marks (men 1500, 3000, triple, women 800). Olympic and World winner Katerina Stefanidi cleared 483 to win the pole vault and tried at WL 491. Ethiopian Habitam Alemu won the 800 m in fast 1:59.69 indoor PB and equaled the World lead. Second Olympic medalist Margaret Wambui 2:00.48 and third Angelika Cichocka 2:00.70. In the 1500 m Moroccan win for Rababe Arafi 4:07.23 over Axumawit Embaye 4:07.40. Gunta Latiseva-Cudare topped the 300 m for Latvia in national best 36.96. Brazilian Rosangela Santos won the 60 m in 7.20 and Ukrainian Hanna Plotitsyna the hurdles 8.02 over Hungarian Greta Kerekes 8.11 PB. In men events the highlight World leading 3:35.39 by Ayanleh Souleiman in the 1500 m ahead of Abdelaati Iguider 3:35.79 and other Moroccan Brahim Kaazouzi 3:36.95 indoor PB with Sadik Mikhou fourth 3:38.48. In 7th place Jacob Ingebrigtsen improved his own European U20 record from last weekend to 3:40.31. Another World lead in men´s 3000 m as Solomon Barega clocked 7:36.64 in his first ever indoor race over World champion Muktar Edris 7:40.69 also in indoor debut. Third steeple specialist Soufiane El Bakkali 7:41.88 overall PB and fourth Paul Koech 7:41.97. Third World lead in men events in triple jump as Almir dos Santos achieved in fourth round 17.37 ahead of Cuban Cristian Napoles 17.02 and Burkina Faso´s Fabrice-Hugues Zango 16.96. World champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse won the 1000 m in 2:20.01 and Adam Kszczot remains unbeaten over 800 m with 1:47.12. Andrew Fisher won the 60 m in 6.62 over Kim Collins and Ben Meite, both 6.63. Jonathan Borlee topped the 300 m in 32.98 and Ludovic Payen hurdles 7.66. Chinese Xue Changrui and French Axel Chapelle cleared 575 in the pole vault.

RunBlogRun opines: This may be the most positive event to happen so far in 2018! An event coming back from a one year hiatus is tough, but six years? Wow! Lieven is now on my bucket list. Totally admire the whole culture who can support an indoor meeting. They are so intimate and great for fan and athlete!