Alfons Juck for the IAAF
20 February 2002 – Praha, Czech Republic – The Czech athletics federation announced today its team for the European Indoor Championships in Vienna, which is composed of 24 athletes. Seven athletes from the younger generation did not meet the standard of the federation, but were also selected.
The Czech Republic’s biggest medal hopes are the two best decathletes in the world - Roman Dvorak and Tomas Sebrle - their heptathlon duel could be one of the highlights in Vienna.
Pavla Hamackova will try to defend her title in the pole vault and also in with the chance of a medal are 400 m runner Jiri Muzik and Pole Vaulter Stepan Janacek.
Another highly experienced contender is 800m runner Helena Fuchsova.
Unfortunately, despite entering two individuals for the 400m, the Czechs will not get the chance to defend the 4x400 m title. The rules, which selected the teams according to the results of 2001, are not bad, but maybe one spot should be given to the actual good teams (as in multievents). Czechs have at home Podebradsky with good times and Vojtik and Zachoval could be added. Because GER and GBR withdrew, one would think that there could be a chance. But the invitation went to Spain (who have a good team with Canal and Rodriguez having under 47 second indoor times) and Ukraine (which clearly indoors does not have the quality of the Czechs).
The Czech Team
Men (15)
200 m: Radek Zachoval (20,91 - 2002 indoor best), Jiri Vojtik (21,18x)
400 m: Jiri Muzik (46,61), Karel Blaha (46,81)
800 m: Roman Oravec (1:47,86)
1500 m: Michal Sneberger (3:40,64)
60 m H: Ladislav Burdel (7,75x)
HJ: Svatoslav Ton (230), Tomas Janku (228), Jan Janku (227)
PV: Stepan Janacek (570), Martin Kysela (550x)
SP: Petr Stehlik (20,09)
Hep:Roman Sebrle, Tomas Dvorak
Women (9)
200 m: Stepanka Klapacova (23,71x)
800 m: Helena Fuchsova (2:02,19)
1500 m: Renata Hoppova (4:14,39x)
60 m H: Lucie Martincova (formerly Skrobakova, 8,28x)
HJ: Barbora Lalakova (194)
PV: Pavla Hamackova (445), Katerina Badurova (430)
LJ: Lucie Komrskova (644x)
Pent: Jana Kleckova (4309)
x..denotes athletes who did not reached the federation standard but were nonetheless selected
