News09 Jul 2004


Scerbova leads Czech team for Grosseto

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Long Jumper Denisa Scerbova of Czech Republic (© Perinvest)

For the sixth time in the history of the IAAF World Junior Championships, Czech and Slovak teams will compete separately next week in Grosseto. Until 1992 former Czechoslovakia achieved 4 medals in four editions of the event (three silvers and one bronze medal).

The gold medal which they did not achieve together they each obtained individually as the Czech Republic won a gold medal in the 2000 edition thanks to Jarmila Klimesova in javelin while Slovakia reached top honours in 1998 with Mikulas Konopka in the Shot Put.

In the last edition of the championships in Kingston, Slovakia managed to grab two medals - two silvers by Lucia Klocova (800m) and Martina Danisova (hammer) while the Czech Republic’s best result was a 5th place by youngster Zuzana Hejnova at 400m Hurdles.

But in Grosseto it looks like the Czech Republic will have the best chances of winning medals. Slovakia is sending only 5 athletes and the medal hopes are not as realistic as in Kingston. On the other hand Czech Republic with 16 athletes has some athletes whose chances of winning medals are very high.

Slovak head coach Vladimir Bezdicek sees a good potential in walker Michal Blazek, who is the son of Pavol Blazek, the 1990 European Champion at 20km.

"This time we have a small team. Only Blazek who has improved in the last competitions could have a possibility to be in the top 8, maybe better if he will be in a good day," said Bezdicek.

Blazek was the only Slovak medallist at last year’s European Junior Championships in Finland (silver). For 400m runner Roman Holly and 800m runner Jozef Repcik qualifying for the second round in Grosseto would be a good result. Holly is hoping to break the 47 seconds for the first time which would improve his own national junior record.

Czech head coach Vaclav Fiser sees realistic medal hopes in long jumper Denisa Scerbova and 2 to 3 other athletes.

Scerbova was second in Sherbrooke World Youth Championships last year and fourth at the European juniors although still 16 years old. The girl from Ostrava (and close friend to world class high jumper Jaroslav Baba under the guidance of coach Ales Duda) has already made big improvements this year with best performances of 6.61 indoors and 6.68 outdoors (in both cases Czech junior records) and some important experience tests competing with the best senior jmpers (World Indoors, Hengelo, Ostrava, Roma Golden League).

She is also entered in the 200m (this year’s best 24.00 and 23.96 windy) but as the coach Ales Duda explains she will concentrate only on the Long jump.

"She did a good number of competitions starting with the Czech Nationals, then the Grand Prix in Praha and the Golden Gala in Roma. That was very stressful. Last week we were with the whole team in a training camp in Nymburk and now everything seems to be ok. She is suffering from a small pain in her knee, but I hope that will be ok," said Duda.

Scerbova herself is known as a great fighter and competitor and does not fear anyone.

"My goal for this year is to be successful in Grosseto. I know there will be tough rivals from Cuba, USA, Russia and Germany. But I will do my best to finish as high as possible. After that I will start to think about Athens," said Scerbova who is also qualified for the Olympic Games.

Number six in the current World lists, Zuzana Hejnova from Jablonec won last year's World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke and was third at the European Juniors at 400m Hurdles.

With her 57.72 from Ostrava Super Grand Prix she has real chances of making the final and with her great competitive attitude she can achieve even more.

The third girl from an impressive 1986 generation of Czech athletics is high jumper Oldriska Maresova from Lovosice. She already cleared 1.87m which makes her number eighth in the World lists.

Of last year’s Sherbrooke medallists Lukas Patera will contest the decathlon where he bettered his personal record this year to 7232 points (third in octathlon in Sherbrooke).

Pole vaulter Jirina Ptacnikova who has her best indoors with 4.11m and was injured in the first part of the summer season could also make the final in Grosseto just like the women’s 4x400m relay squad.

Biography note: Ptacnikova is the daughter of former sprinter Frantisek Ptacnik who is the national record holder at 60m and Remigius Machura jr. is of course the son of former excellent shot putter and Czech record holder Remigius Machura sr.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

Czech team for Grosseto
Men
100 m: Jaroslav Smotek, 1986
SP: Remigius Machura jr., 1986
SP: Jan Marcell, 1985
HT: Michal Fiala, 1985
JT: Jan Syrovatko, 1985
Dec: Lukas Patera, 1986
10 000 m walk: Jiri Chaloupka, 1985

Women
400mH: Zuzana Hejnova, 1986
HJ: Oldriska Maresova, 1986
PV: Jirina Ptacnikova, 1986
LJ: Denisa Scerbova, 1986
HT: Lenka Ledvinova, 1985

4x400 m
Jitka Bartonickova, 1985
Jana Sajdokova, 1987
Jana Polivkova, 1985
Michaela Rinkova, 1986

Slovakia team for Grosseto
Men

400m: Roman Holly, 1985
800m: Jozef Repcik, 1986
HT: Michal Lomnicky, 1987
10 000 m walk: Michal Blazek, 1985

Women
2000 m SC: Jana Stykova, 1985

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