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The second day from the European Indoor Championships reviewed
Men’s high jump final
RUSSIA’S Ivan Ukhov was virtually unopposed in this event, as he took the gold medal without any challenge. The world no.1 and the Russian indoor record-holder at 2.40m did not scale those heights today but his first time clearance at 2.32m was enough to defeat Kyriakos Ioannou and Aleksey Dmitrik, who tied for the silver medal.
Men’s triple jump final
ITALY won their first gold medal of the championships, courtesy of the elder statesman of their national squad. The highly talented but frustrating erratic Fabrizio Donato finally broke his major championships duck with a magnificent jump of 17.59m. Quite fittingly, Donato improved his national indoor record by 17cm to erase Phillips Idowu’s championship record and his mark was also the world-leading distance for 2009. After setting four consecutive fouls, one might have thought Donato had succumbed to the pressure as he has done in the past, but the 32-year-old, whose only honours were victories at the European Cup and Mediterranean Games, secured his first major title with his fifth round effort, which was his only valid jump.
Men’s shot put heptathlon
OVERALL leader Oleksiy Kasyanov held onto the lead but the Ukrainian saw his lead diminish to just five-points. Kasyanov threw 14.51m for 760-points but his lead was put under pressure by Estonia’s Mikk Pahapill, who set his second lifetime best of 15.45m, to move only five-points behind Kasyanov. Roman Sebrle moved to third with 15.14m (798-points) but still some 100-points behind the leaders.
Women’s pole vault final
RUSSIA’S Yuliya Golubchikova benefited from the absence of her more illustrious team-mates as she upgraded her silver medallist from 2007 in an exciting contest. The Olympic fourth placer and one of the pre-competition favourites cleared every height at her first attempt until 4.75m, and held a narrow advantage over the young German Silke Spiegelburg, who needed two attempts at 4.65m. Both athletes cleared 4.75m, which was a German record for Spiegelburg, on their third attempts but Golubchikova had the advantage on countback, which was enough to take the gold medal ahead of Spiegelburg, and team-mate Anna Battke, who cleared a PB of 4.65m.
Kate Dennison was a respectable sixth in the final, clearing 4.35m.
Men’s 1500m heats
NEIL SPEAIGHT was fortunate to be drawn in the faster heat, as he did not get into contention to qualify by right. The UK indoor silver medallist placed sixth in 3:41.96, to qualify as the third fastest loser.
Women’s 800m semi-finals
THERE were no difficulties for Marilyn Okoro and Jenny Meadows, as both athletes qualified for their second consecutive European indoor final. Okoro eased through the opening heat, placing second in 2:02.63, whilst Meadows placed third in the final heat, running a slightly faster 2:01.21 and both competitors will be in contention for a medal.
Men’s 800m semi-finals
THERE was a rarity in the first semi-final, as Yuriy Borzakovskiy decided to run it from the front. Despite the change in tactics, the former Olympic champion qualified without any fuss, clocking 1:49.00. Perhaps the only athlete who will be able to pose a threat to Borzakovskiy is Sweden’s Mattias Claesson, who won the second heat (1:51.55.)
Women’s long jump final
IN a surprisingly high standard final, Estonia’s Ksenija Balta upset the Russian favourites for the title. The 23-year-old set a national record of 6.75m in qualifying but the versatile Balta took the ascendancy with a 6.87m world-lead and national record in the fourth round to overtake the pre-race favourite Olga Kucherenko, who led with a first round jump of 6.78m.
However, there was great drama in the final round as Kucherenko challenged Balta with a 6.82m jump, followed by Yelena Sokolova improving to a PB of 6.84m.
Women’s 60m semi-finals
AFTER a sluggish performance in the heats, Germany’s Verena Sailer stormed out of the blocks and she was rewarded with a European-leading mark of 7.17, which was also a PB for the 23-year-old. Sailer qualified as the fastest, ahead of Ezinne Okparebo, who set another national record of 7.22 and Yevgeniya Polyakova (7.25.)
Women’s 1500m final
SHOWING no ill effects of running in the 3000m heats this morning, Anna Alminova took victory in her specialist event but the Russian was made to work hard by the experienced Spaniard Natalia Rodriguez, who stole a march on the field with 600m remaining. Alminova closed the gap on the two-time Olympic finalist on the penultimate gap but the pre-race favourite challenged for the lead with one lap remaining. Rodriguez stuck with Alminova but the 24-year-old showed her superior strength with 100m to pull away to set a winning time of 4:07.76.
Women’s 400m final
ANTONINA KRIVOSHAPKA won another gold medal for the Russian team but the world’s no.1 came close to losing the title as she tied up in the final 100m. The former world youth silver medallist stormed through the opening 200m in 23.12, which was faster than Nicola Sanders’ opening split in 2007, to open up a significant lead but Krivoshapka’s legs began to crumble in the closing stages, which gave Nataliya Pyhyda the opportunity to close. Thankfully for the Russian, the line came first and the Russian newcomer prevailed with a winning time of 51.18. Pyhyda came second in a PB of 51.44, whilst Darya Safonova took third in 51.85.
Donna Fraser’s long legs did not respond well to the tight lane two and was never in contention. The former Olympic finalist placed sixth and outside 53-seconds.
Men’s 400m final
WHILST Krivoshapka’s victory was almost a certainty, the men’s contest was a wide-open affair with another gold medal chance for the home country in the form of Claudio Licciardello. Sweden’s Johan Wissman forged to the front in the opening 200m in 21.43 but Licciardello looked ominous as he eased onto Wissman’s shoulder with 100m remaining.
However, Wissman found an extra gear and moved wide off the final turn as the Swede forged to a world-lead of 45.89. Licciardello held on for silver (46.32), whilst Romania’s Ioan Vieru took bronze (46.54.)
Richard Buck was fifth in the final in 46.93.
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