Turin, Italy – The opening morning of competition of the 30th European Athletics Indoor Championships at the Oval Lingotto saw in the men’s competition programme one notably huge non-qualifier, an echo of an Olympic triumph, and some good hurdling, 400m and 3000m running.

Shaky Sedoc makes good; Borisov easy

There was a shaky start to the men’s championship track events and more personally for the title defence of Gregory Sedoc in the opening heat of 60m Hurdles. The Dutchman false started in his, the first heat of the event’s qualifying round. The lapse though was a momentary one, as on the second sound of the gun Sedoc was away cleanly and strolled home to an easy 7.68 sec victory.

There was nearly a surprise none-qualifier in the second heat. Spain’s Jackson Quinonez, the silver medallist two years ago and an athlete who was seventh in the World Indoors in Valencia last winter, finished fourth (7.76) but got through as a fastest loser. Winning his heat was Germany’s Helge Scvhwarzer (7.68), with 2005 World outdoor champion Ladji Doucouré of France second in 7.70, and Belgium’s Damien Broothaerts taking the third qualification spot (7.75).

Russia’s Yevgeniy Borisov, the fastest in Europe and third quickest in the world so far this season (7.45) was an easy winner of heat three in 7.63, a race which nearly saw the demise of Sweden’s Robert Kronberg (5th 7.85) who won the bronze at these champs in 2005, and like Quinonez  was one of the fastest losers to qualify. Czech Petr Svoboda in 7.64 was an extravagantly jubilant winner of the final heat.

The big slap in the face

If there were some big names cutting it fine in the hurdles, the definitive shock of the morning came in the Triple Jump which saw the demise of one of the most prodigious favourites of any event at these championships.

World Junior champion Teddy Tamgho of France has bounced into the frame this indoor season as the much talked about future of the men’s Triple Jump. In three competitions prior to Turin the 19-year-old had set the event on fire topped by his world season leading 17.58m in Paris on 13 February. Such is the obvious talent and the recent form of the Montreuil club man, who holds an outdoor best of 17.19m from late last season, that some have even speculated that the indoor World mark (17.83m) might soon be in danger.

However, this morning Tamgho showed understandable inexperience for someone of such few years and as such those high expectations should not be immediately dashed on the basis of his non-qualification. There is no doubt though that his 15.98m opener followed by two fouls is not how the Frenchman will want to remember his first ever international senior championships.

Uudmäe’s huge PB

France had something to celebrate as Tamgho’s team-mate Karl Taillepierre was one of three automatic qualifiers for tomorrow’s final (16.85m automatic) with a second round 16.88m, while Estonia’s Jaanus Uudmäe led the round with a huge 17.06 PB, his previous career best was 16.59 (4 Feb)!

Uudmäe’s father (Jaak) was the Olympic champion at this event in 1980, and the delighted son commented, “I did not expect to jump so far. I missed my father’s national record by just 4cm…. My expectations are very high. Maybe I will break his record in the final.” And in a very kind note the 28-year-old Estonian added “I feel sorry about Tamgho… I know he is a good jumper.”

Tamgho was substantially more upset of course. “I am so disappointed. I was the big revelation of the winter season but now I got a big slap in my face! My right heel hurts a little bit which is why I had problems.”

Belarussia’s Dzmitry Dziatsuk was second best of the qualifiers with 16.96. Further back 2005 champion Igor Spasovkhodskiy of Russia was another of the eight to proceed to the final, with Italy’s hope Fabrizio Donato, who set a national record of 17.42 on this runway at the national champs a fortnight ago, also through with a 16.65 best.

Gillick and Licciardello looking good but Wissman will be hard to break

The favourite and two-time defending champion Ireland’s David Gillick dominated his heat with a supremely comfortable 47.10 sec run in the penultimate race of five men’s 400s this morning. Of note, Antonio Reina, the silver medallist over 800m four years ago in Madrid but who failed to make the Spanish team at that distance this time, did not finish this race.

The final heat brought the crowd to frenzy in their support of Claudio Licciardello, the world season leader (46.03). The Italian was a confident qualifier in second place with 46.72, the same time as race winner Jan Ciepiela.

However both the Irish and Italian athletes will have their work cut out bettering Sweden’s Johan Wissman this weekend. The World Indoor silver medallist last year was the fastest of the day with 46.49 which headed off a good 46.61 run by Austria’s Clemens Zeller.

In the other heats Ioan Vieru of Romania just nipped past Briton’s Richard Buck who eased up dramatically before the line after leading most of the way during the third heat; they both qualified 46.99 and 47.04 respectively. Italy’s Matteo Galvan took the second of today’s qualifying races in 47.18.

Three Spaniards and three Britons through – 3000m

The men’s programme was concluded on this first morning with two 3000m heats, the first the quickest was brought home by steeplechaser Bob Tahri in 7:52.58. The Frenchman won the silver two years ago in Birmingham. Mo Farah of Briton, whose national record 7:34.47 dominates the European lists this year was third in the second race (8:03.26) which was won by Sweden’s Olle Walleräng in 8:02.09.

Yet the hopes of these three athletes will be tempered a little by the qualification of the Spanish trio Sergio Sanchez (2nd Ht1; 7:52.75), Jesus Espana, the European 5000m champion (2nd Ht 2; 8:02.99) and Francisco Espana (4th Ht 2; 8:03.96). Britain will also have three finalists as Mick McCormick (7:53.35) and Mark Draper (7:53.91 PB) also went through in fourth and fifth in heat 1. Turkey’s Selim Bayrak, who is the former Ethiopian Girma Legese, third in 7:52.93, could be the surprise package of this event.

XC maestro Sergiy Lebid struggling at the back of the pack was the major casualty a DNF next to his name in heat one. He eventually stepped off the track with 5 laps to go.

Chris Turner for the IAAF

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