by Alfonz Juck
Christina Manning, USATF Indoors, semi finals, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Glasgow Muller Indoor GP was held today, February 25, and there were some fine races. Among the finest was the women’s 60m hurdles, one of the toughest events in the sport , Christina Manning defeated Sharika Nelvis, one week after Sharika’s new American record. In the US champs, Keni Harrison took second, giving her the trip to Birmingham. With Christina Manning winning the 60m hurdles in Glasgow and the IAAF World tour, Christina now joins her two American compatriots in Birmingham. Three American hurdlers in the women’s 60m hurdles! Fantastic!
Manning wins and gets into US team
GLASGOW (GBR, Feb 25): Tom Bosworth set a world best for 3000m walk, while Mariya Lasitskene and Ekaterini Stefanidi continued long unbeaten streaks at the final event of the IAAF World Indoor Tour. Among the best marks were the 7.79 of Christina Manning in the 60m hurdles, Khaddi Sagnia’s 6.92m long jump and Justus Soget’s 7:39.09 3000m. Tour winners confirmed were Su, Kejelcha, Chepkoech, Manning, Lasitskene and Moguenara.
Men
60m: Tour winner and favourite Su Bingtian duly won in 6.50 from Mike Rodgers 6.54. Bryce Robinson 6.56 was ahead of a PB from Ojie Edoburun of 6.56. Ujah fifth 6.57.
400m (non-tour): Fred Kerley led from start to finish to clock 45.86 (first win in Europe), while Luka Janezic (46.29) passed Dontavius Wright (46.36) in the closing stages.
800m: Sixth win out of six and tour win for Adam Kszczot, who ran tactically well for 1:47.15, ahead of Marcin Lewandowski’s 1:47.50 and Jake Wightman’s indoor PB of 1:47.69.
1500m (non-tour): A close three-way contest saw Bethwel Birgen front-run the last lap to win in 3:37.76 as the strong Vincent Kibet couldn’t find a way through (3:37.88), although passing Ryan Gregson (3:38.00). Interestingly Birgen as Indoor Tour winner 2017 is not selected by Kenyan federation for World Indoors.
3000m: Under-20 Justus Soget was quicker than his outdoor PB with 7:39.09 as he finished first to surprise the slightly easing-up Paul Chelimo (7:39.10). Yomif Kejelcha (7:39.36) was the other man involved as he secured the tour title.
60m hurdles (non-tour): Ronald Levy set a big PB of 7.49 in his first indoor race ever, beating Aries Merritt (7.58) and Andrew Pozzi (7.60) after pre-race favourite Jarret Eaton collided badly with the third hurdle and was a DNF.
Long jump (non-tour): Shi Yuhao stole victory in the last round with 8.13m. Runner-up Damar Forbes and Huang Changzhou shared best mark of 7.99m. Greg Rutherford set a season’s best 7.89m in fourth.
3000m walk (non-tour): Tom Bosworth took 1.14 off the world best with 10:30.28, clocking a 3:26.79 final kilometre. Fellow Brit Callum Wilkinson was well back in second on 10:52.77 (sixth on the all-time list).
Women
60m (non-tour): Marie Josee Ta Lou won from home favourite Dina Asher-Smith 7.07 to 7.09 (7.08 in heats), with Elaine Thompson in 7.12. Dafne Schippers, making the final as fastest loser, was only fifth with 7.22.
400m: Win for Phyllis Francis in 52.00 after passing earlier leader Eilidh Doyle (52.38), ahead of Stephenie Ann McPherson (52.69), who stumbled a couple of times in home straight.
800m (non-tour): Liga Velvere set Latvian record 2:02.01 to upset home crowd as Scot Lynsey Sharp was second in 2:02.39.
1500m: In a race of her own, Beatrice Chepkoech clocked an outright Kenyan indoor record 4:02.21 to take the tour win. Second was Axumawit Embayae in 4:07.06 ahead of Winny Chebet’s 4:08.33.
60m hurdles: Christina Manning held off Sharika Nelvis with a fast 7.79 to 7.84 as both ended equal on the tour leaderboard. The best time from tour races decided in favort of Manning (7.77 in Dusseldorf). Isabelle Pedersen set a PB 7.93 in third.
High jump: Mariya Lasitskene cleared 1.95m and had three failures at 2.00m for her 37th victory in a row and to ensure the tour win. Morgan Lake was second with 1.92m ahead of Levern Spencer (1.88m).
Pole vault: Ekaterini Stefanidi survived a scare when clearing 4.75m at her third attempt, stretching her winning streak to 19. Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou had to make do with second and 4.65m. Morgann Leleux was third with 4.45m.
Long jump: Khaddi Sagnia caused a surprise as she equaled Swedish indoor record of Carolina Kluft from 2004 with a PB 6.92m to beat Sostene Moguenara (6.83m), who claimed the tour title, and Ivana Spanovic (6.81m), while Tianna Bartoletta set a season’s best 6.61 in sixth.
