by Stuart WeirThe Czech Indoor Gala Meeting was held on Wednesday 3 feb 2021in Ostrava, Czech republic. An excellent meet, Stuart Weir did this piece, and also sent us pictures by Adolf Horsinka / ÄŒAS.
Paval Maslak, winning the 400m in The Czech Indoor Gala meeting, photo by ÄŒAS – Adolf Horsinka
The Czech Indoor Gala meeting was a great event. It consisted of a two-hour elite and international program preceded by a number of national events so allowing a large number of local athletes to be part of the event. There was even a mixed 4 by 400 relay.
The mixed 4x400m relay, photo by ÄŒAS – Adolf Horsinka
In the international program, there were 3 meeting records and three national records – of Portugal, Luxembourg and Israel. There were 25 PRs plus three equal PRs. Special mention to Sarah Lavin of Ireland who ran a PR in the 60m hurdles prelim of 8.21 and then 8.18 in the final. Spare a thought too for Dominik Kopeć who equalled his PR of 6.67 in 60m twice in the course of the afternoon. At least he is consistent!
Jamie Webb takes the 800m, photo by ÄŒAS – Adolf Horsinka
The races of the day were the Men’s 800m and 1500m. Jamie Webb won the 800 in 1:46.45 – his second PR in five days. Webb commented afterwards: “A femur injury bothered me for a long time, in Vienna and here I was running the first 800m races after the 2019 World Championships (semi-finals). Things are going well, second race, second PR. I may have made some minor mistakes in the race, but I felt strong in the finish”.
I like Jamie Webb. I once had to wait to speak to him after a race in Poland when he was feeling unwell. He explained that the event had wanted to take him off to hospital but he had said “No, I am old-school. Let me throw up and I will he fine. He told me that he had and he was!
Filip Å nejdr (Czech) who was second in 1:46.63, one of four athletes running PRs in the race, commented: “I aimed to get good points in the rankings, and it worked. The personal record (4th place in the Czech all-time list) is a nice bonus”.
The men’s 1500 was won by István Szögi (Hungary) in 3:39.28 followed by 8 athletes from seven different countries, all running PRs!, photo by ÄŒAS – Adolf Horsinka
The men’s 1500 was won by István Szögi (Hungary) in 3:39.28 followed by 8 athletes from seven different countries, all running PRs! Szögi commented: “I raced on Saturday (3:37.55 in Vienna) so I did not have much time to rest, but I am happy for the win and to run again under 3:40. Pacemaking was perfect”.
The stand-out events in the women’s program were the 1500m won by Meraf Bahta (Sweden) in 4:15.88. She commented: “The time is not good, but I am happy with the result. And I am very grateful for organization of the meeting. I will aim for 3k for the European Indoors in ToruÅ„”.
Meraf Bahta (Sweden), won the in 4:15.88, photo by ÄŒAS – Adolf Horsinka
Tina Å utej (Slovenia) kept the 2021 sequence of excellent pole-vault competitions going with a win in 4.70m. Like all good pole-vaulters, she could see more clearly what was not doing than what she was: “I am happy with jumping a meet record and confirming my standard. Technically I have still a lot of things to improve, but I believe I can do 480+ this indoor season”.
Tina Å utej (Slovenia) wins the pole vault in 4.70m, photo by ÄŒAS – Adolf Horsinka
Congratulations to the Czech Athletics Federation for putting on an excellent event. My only regret is that I could not be there in person.
Winners
Men
60m Oliver Bromby (GBR) 6.65
400m Pavel Maslák (Czech) 46.22
800m Jamie Webb (GBR) 1:46.45
1500m István Szögi (Hungary) 3:39.28
High Jump Tihomir Ivanov (Bulgaria) 2.21
Long Jump Radek Juška (Czech) 7.90
Shot Tomáš Staněk (Czech) 20.94
Women
60m Jamile Samuel (Netherlands) 7.28
60m Hurdles Pia Skrzyszkowska (Poland) 8.02
400m Cynthia Bolingo Mbongo (Belgium) 52.89
1500m Meraf Bahta (Sweden) 4:15.88
Pole Vault Tina Å utej (Slovenia) 4.70
