Early-season marks aren’t usually worth too much excitement, but there were three new world leaders at the sold-out meeting in Karlsruhe (GER):
● Men’s High Jump: 2.35 m (7-8 1/2): Naoto Tobe (JPN)
● Women’s 60 m: 7.10, Ewa Swoboda (POL)
● Women’s 3,000 m: 8:43.36, Melissa Courtney (GBR)
Tobe’s mark was a new indoor record for Japan and, in fact, he set four national indoor records on the night, including a first-try clearance at 2.31 m (7-7), then a second-try make at 2.33 m (7-7 3/4) and then his winning, third-time try at 2.35 m (7-8 1/2). He missed three times at 2.37 m (7-9 1/4), but two were close. Pretty good for someone with a pre-meet indoor best of 2.26 m (7-5).
“My goal this season was get the national record but now I’ve already done that,” said Tobe afterwards. “My next aim will be 2.40 m (7-10 1/2).”
Poland’s Swoboda impressed by beating Dutch sprint star Dafne Schippers in the 60 m final, 7.10 to 7.19. “I’m very happy and relieved with my time,” said Swoboda. “I didn’t know where I stood and the pressure to know was high.”
Britain’s Courtney won the 3,000 m on a final sprint on the last half-lap, zipping past the pace-setting Ethiopians Alemaz Samuel and Gudaf Tsegay.
On the infield, Cuba’s Juan Miguel Echevarria hadn’t jumped since last summer and he had a lot of trouble with his approach, reaching only 8.08 m (26-6 1/4). Sweden’s Thomas Nilsson Montler had the same distance, but a better second jump to take the win.
A rare three-way tie was the result of the women’s vault, with Alysha Newman (CAN) clearing five heights in a row through 4.71 m (15-5 1/2) and World Indoor medalist Anzhelika Sidorova and Olympic and World Champion Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) both making two first-time clearances to get to the same height. But no one could clear 4.78 m (15-8 1/4) and a tie was called for.
Next up is the Copernicus Cup in Torun (POL) on Wednesday (6th). Summaries:
IAAF World Indoor Tour
Karlsruhe (GER) ~ 2 February 2019
(Full results here)
Men
400 m: 1. Pavel Maslak (CZE), 46.78; 2. Oscar Husillos (ESP), 47.12; 3. Karol Zalewski (POL), 47.17.
800 m: 1. Andreas Kramer (SWE), 1:46.52; 2. Erik Sowinski (USA), 1:46.69; 3. Filip Snejdr (CZE), 1:47.01.
1,500 m: 1. Vincent Kibet (KEN), 3:38.23; 2. Bethwell Birgen (KEN), 3:38.69; 3. Simon Denissel (FRA), 3:39.17.
High Jump: 1. Naoto Tobe (JPN), 2.35 m (7-8 1/2); 2. Yu Wang (CHN), 2.31 m (7-7 ); 3. Donald Thomas (BAH), 2.26 m (7-5). Also: 7. Trey Culver (USA), 2.13 m (6-11 3/4).
Long Jump: 1. Thobias Nilsson Montler (SWE), 8.08 m (26-6 1/4); 2. Juan Miguel Echevarria (CUB), 8.08 m (26-6 1/4); 3. Michel Torneus (SWE), 7.91 m (25-11 1/2). Also: 7. Jarvis Gotch (USA), 7.29 m (23-11).
Women
60 m: 1. Ewa Swoboda (POL), 7.10; 2. Dafne Schippers (NED), 7.19; 3. Rebekka Haase (GER), 7.23.
3,000 m: 1. Melissa Courtney (GBR), 8:43.36; 2. Alemaz Samuel (ETH), 8:43.78; 3. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), 8:46.27.
60 m Hurdles: 1. Nadine Visser (NED), 7.97; 2. Cindy Roleder (GER), 7.98; 3. Karolina Koleczek (POL), 8.05.
Pole Vault: 1. tie, Alysha Newman (CAN), Anzhelika Sidorova (RUS) and Katerina Stefanidi (GRE), 4.71 m (15-5 1/2). Also: 4. Katie Nageotte (USA), 4.63 m (15-2 1/4).
Triple Jump: 1. Ana Peleteiro (ESP), 14.51 m (47-7 1/4); 2. Yulimar Rojas (VEN), 14.45 m (47-5); 3. Patricia Mamona (POR), 14.36 m (47-1 1/2). Also: 7. Tori Franklin (USA), 13.97 m (45-10).
