Round up of National Indoor Championships from around Europe – News from European Athletics – EAA

This weekend is the weekend of European Indoor athletics, and here follows some of the highlights from the National Championships and major events around Europe.

VALENCIA (ESP)

At 44th Spanish Championships (also the last test before World Indoor Championships) the best result was achieved by High Jumper Ruth Beitia who cleared 1.96m and tried for two metres. For the statistics fans, there was an important 16th title in a row for Shot Putter Manuel Martinez (19.56m). Angel David Rodriguez was the fastest over 60m (6.73), and in a slow 3000m Sergio Sanchez (8:02.09) beat European Steeplechase Champion Antonio Jimenez (8:02.83).

GENOVA (ITA)

European Long Jump Champion and European Rising Star of 2007, Andrew Howe, lost for the first time since June 2004 to another Italian Jumper. His 7.71m leap was only enough for second place. Ferdinando Iucovano took the Italian title with 7.83m. After the competition Howe acknowledged that he was in poor shape and that there would have been no point in him travelling to Valencia.

Olympic 20km Walk Champion Ivano Brugnetti achieved a world leading 5,000m walk (18:33.06) time, while Elisa Rigaudo did the same at women´s 3,000m, finishing in 12:10.23.

There was a great duel in the women's Shot Put as Chiara Rosa threw 18.63m in her last attempt to beat European Indoor Champion Assunta Legnante (18.43m). The other three good quality wins came from Claudio Licciardello in the 400m (46.57), Christian Obrist at 1,500m (3:42.39) and Micol Cattaneo in the 60m Hurdles (8.14).

SINDELFINGEN (GER)

The 13th national senior championships held in Sindelfingen saw another title for favourite Pole Vaulter, Tim Lobinger. He cleared 5.80m at his second attempt, as did European Indoor Champion Danny Ecker, however Ecker had also knotched up an earlier failure at 5.60m that decided the eventual placings. These two are now the main contenders for two Valencia German team spots. One-to-watch is fifth place finisher Raphael Holzdeppe, who set a new Junior record with his 5.60m clearance before some close attempts at a new World Junior best of 5.70m.

Peter Sack confirmed his good shape with a decisive Shot Put win of 20.23m, while High Jumper Eike Onnen confirmed his number one position in the country by clearing 2.28m and trying for 2.31m.

Former World Champion Charles Friedek won the Triple Jump title with 16.44m and Tobias Unger performed consistently across the heats semis and finals of the 60m finishing in 6.62 everytime to take the title. THe silver went to Marius Broening (6.64) who was the fastest of the day clocking PB of 6.60 in semi-finals. The women's 60m Sprint winner was Vera Sailer, who ran a new personal best of 7.23m.

European Champion Jan Fitschen won the 3,000m in 7:54.43, and Melanie Seeger clocked the second fastest 3,000m walk of the season in 12:12.57. In the woman's Shot Put, Denise Hinrichs improved in her last round to 18.81m, taking the title from Petra Lammert who made her season debut with 18.63m.

MALMO (SWE)

Former World bronze medalist Emma Green showed marked improvements in her High Jump to take the Swedish title in 1.98m. Alhaji Jeng also confirmed his good shape in the Pole Vault where he cleared 5.70m. Lena Berntsson ran a 7.32 best time in the 60m Sprint and Helena Engman threw 18.05m in the Shot Put to confirm their top positions in the country.

PRAGUE (CZE)

Stanislav Sajdok has made great strides in his 60m Hurdles technique, finishing in 7.65 to beat Petr Svoboda (7.69).

Iva Strakova jumped 1.94m in her first attempt to qualify for the High Jump in Valencia, however there was not such good news for Romana Dubnova who only achieved 1.91m and so failed to qualify. The Czech Republic's best jumper, Barbora Lalakova (this year 1.97m) did not jump due to a calf injury, but she will be ready for Valencia.

Lucie Martincova improved her 60m Hurdles season best, first in heats (8.15) and then again in the finals (8.14), however this is still 0.04seconds behind the Valencia standard of 8.10. 400m Hurdles record holder Zuzana Hejnova tried for the Valencia standard (53.10) in the 400m heats, but just missed out when she finished in 53.17.

Another fast paced heat took place in the 1,500m, won by young Tomas Bednar (22) who improved his best time to 3:42.34 and beat Czech record holder Michal Sneberger (3:43.48).

Rudolf Gotz improved in the 400m heats to 47.20 and European Junior 100m medalist from Hengelo, Katerina Cechova, won the senior title with a personal best of 7.41 in the 60m Sprint.

Two World Champions from Osaka were out to test their shape; Roman Sebrle in the Shot Put (15.79) and Pole Vault (4.67m) and Javelin Champion Barbora Spotakova who took 7th place in the 60m Hurdles final (8.72 and 8.82 in heat).

SPALA (POL)

Lukasz Chyla took an expected victory in the 60m Sprint, clocking 6.62, with even faster times in the heats (6.59). This is his fourth title at the distance, and the same for female winner, Darya Korczynska (7.34). Bartosz Nowicki won the 1,500m with a solid time of 3:42.68.

Tomasz Majewski improved his season's best in Shot Put to 20.51m, while Multieventer Karolina Tyminska won the Long Jump (6.52m), and Marcin Starzak took men's title with 7.92m.

JOENSUU (FIN)

Junior Vanessa Vandy achieved a new Finnish Indoor Pole Vault record of 4.30m, while European Junior Champion from last year Minna Nikkanen was second with 4.25m.

Johanna Manninen won the 60m Sprint as expected, clocking 7.39 and 7.36 in the semi-finals. In the men's race Joni Rautanen dominated in 6.73.

There was also new women's Pole Vault record here by 22-year-old Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou clearing 4.40m. Close call in men´s Long Jump. Record holder Luis Tsatoumas won with 7.88m before Asterios Nousis (7.87m) and Georgios Tsakonas (7.86m).

BUDAPEST (HUN):

High Jumper Dora Gyorffy achieved 1.89m. Peter Miklos was the fastest at 60 m (6.77).

ST. GALLEN (SUI):

Men´s 60 m final will be repeated on Sunday after protest of fastest from semifinals Pascal Mancini (6.80). Fabienne Weyermann won women´s race (7.44). There is a possibility that Switzerland will not have any athletes at World Indoor Championships for the first time.

ZAGREB (CRO):

Jura Grabusic clocked new national record in winning the 60m Hurdles with 7.78. He also was the fastest at 60m (6.71). Andrea Ivancevic also won two golds. At 60 m flat with new Croatian record 7.33 and at 60 m Hurdles (8.29).

WIEN (AUT):

Both sprinter winners achieved the best results. Bettina Muller-Weissina clocked 7.36 and Ryan Moseley of Barbados 6.75. He has Austrian wife and is allowed to compete for Austrian Club.

BRATISLAVA (SVK):

National record holder Miriam Bobkova confirmed her excellent shape with clocking 8.09 in heats and 8.08 in finals of 60m Hurdles. Osaka finalist Dana Veldakova after return from training camp in South Africa just tested her shape with triple jump win (13.97). Bulgarian guest Inna Eftimova clocked in 60 m heats 7.36. As foreigner she was not allowed to compete in finals.

MOGILYOV (BLR):

Former World Shot Put Champion (2005) Nadezhda Ostapchuk proved she is in fighting form by pulling off a new World leading throw of 20.35m. The 27-year-old thrower is ready to set the record straight in what should be another exciting duel between her and current World Champion Valerie Vili in Valencia.

Maksim Lynsha achieved the expected double in the 60m (6.64) and 60m Hurdles (7.64).

SUMY (UKR):

Reigning Olympic Shot Put Champion Yuri Bilonoh returned indoors to the 20m region for the first time since 2004, winning the Ukrainian title during the second day of the Championships with 20.07m.

Osaka Heptathlon silver medallist, Lyudmila Blonska, won two silvers in the 60m Hurdles (8.41) and in the Long Jump (6.50m). The winners were Yevgeniya Snihur (8.10) and Oleksandra Stadnyuk (6.60m).
Their was a top quality women's 400m competition which sparked hopes for a successful relay team in Valencia; Antonina Yefremova clocked 52.33 and Nataliya Pyhida 52.35, while in the men's 400m Myhaylo Knysh improved to 46.43.

Volodymyr Zyuskov won the Long Jump (7.96m) and Dmytro Demyanyuk took the High Jump title with a 2.28m clearance. European Junior Champion, Oleksandr Nartov, was second with 2.25m and former World Champion (2005) Yuri Krimarenko, only managed third place also in 2.25m. The women's High Jump was missing the event favourites, and the title went to Olena Holosha with 1.89m.