Ladji Doucoure dips on the line to take 60m hurdles gold (© Getty Images)
Ladji Doucouré tonight signalled that after three inconsistent years haunted by injury and poor form that he is very much on his way back internationally. France’s 2005 World 110m Hurdles champion mastered defending titleholder Gregory Sedoc of the Netherlands to take the 60m Hurdles gold medal on the first of three evenings of competition at the 30th European Athletics Indoor Championships in Turin’s Oval Lingotto.
“This race was far from ideal, but I don’t care!”
During this morning’s heats and in the semi-final stage earlier this evening Doucouré had been consistent but didn't take a heat win in either of those rounds and always stayed in the shadow of the pre-event favourite Russia’s European season leader Yevgeniy Borisov. While Doucouré headed Sedoc in their semi-final heat the balance of opinion as to who would come out the better in the end always seemed to be with the Dutchman who had taken this title as part of a national gold and silver double two years ago in Birmingham. Also looking more the future champion was Czech Petr Svoboda who put in a brilliant run in the semi-final.
However, when the gun went and the final got away at the first time of asking it was Doucouré who looked the part. If the Frenchman would later claim his own start was poor, Svoboda especially seemed to labour out of his blocks.
By the fourth hurdle the 25-year-old Doucouré, who took this title in 2005, was ahead and he powered home to clock 7.55 sec for gold. While Sedoc fought to the end and kept himself exceptionally close in the title chase, recording the same time for silver, it was Doucouré’s characteristic low lean which confirmed his supremacy at the tape. Doucouré then jumped with glee onto the top of the crash mats at the end of the straight to proclaim his supremacy for all those in the Oval to see.
Doucouré unconsciously reinforced his quality and refound confidence verbally by giving an honest critical appraisal of his own race as only a seasoned champion can really do - “My start was bad. I really need to work on that, and then I also hit a hurdle and thought I would fall. This race was far from ideal, but I don’t care! I hope this race will give me enough power and motivation for the summer.”
In bronze was Svoboda (7.61) with Britain’s Andy Turner fourth (7.62) also ahead of Borisov (7.64, 5th) who must go away bitterly disappointed considering his 7.45 season’s best ahead of these championships. Though his feelings will also be tinged with some sense of relief as earlier this evening it didn’t look like the Russian was going to make the final at all.
In the semi-finals, Borisov’s wayward trailing leg had seemingly led to his disqualification after crossing the line first, but later he was reinstated on appeal and so took his place in the final. France’s Darien Garfield briefly promoted to the win in a PB of 7.63 was therefore runner-up in that first semi. In this race Germany's Helge Schwarzer, a would be challenger after winning his first round heat, ended up face down on the track after a terrible fall.
Svoboda in the second of the two semis had equalled the Czech record with a 7.55 in a close tussle with Doucouré who crossed second with the same time; Sedoc who had been climbing hurdles in the early part of the race recovered to take a clear third in 7.61.
Wissman and Licciardello are a cut above; Gillick’s defence hits the deck
The men’s 400m semis, well at least the first of the two heats, took on the aspect of a wrestling match. No sooner had the race begun Poland’s Piotr Klimczak found himself sprawling on the floor. Then more dramatically we later witnessed the two-time defending champion David Gillick of Ireland hit the track after an altercation with Romania’s Ioan Vieru (2nd 46.61) before and into the final bend of the race.
But by then way out and clear was Sweden’s supreme Johan Wissman who used his experience as World silver medallist well. His winning time was 46.38, equalling his season’s best. Britain’s Richard Buck was the third qualifier (46.76).
“Definitely I can run faster in the final,” confirmed Wissman.
Presumably after witnessing the spectacle of heat one, Italy’s world season leader Claudio Licciardello took no chances and employed mature tactics which belied his 23 years of age. He took the second semi by the scruff of the neck from the off allowing the home favourite a clear and safe win in 46.31. Austria’s Clemens Zeller was second (46.84), and also making the final tomorrow in the third qualification spot was second string Italian Matteo Galvan, a fact which sent the spectators wild.
“I have the Italian record in my legs,” said Licciardello. “I recovered well after the morning’s heats. Wissman will be a strong rival for the medal
Ukhov, perfect as expected
In the High Jump qualifying world season leader Russian Ivan Ukhov was one of four from the first pool of jumpers to clear the automatic qualification height of 2.30m. Ukhov attempted four heights - 2.17, 2.22, 2.27 and 2.30 - and cleared all on his first efforts. He is the man in form as he has been most of this winter. Say no more!
All but for a first round miss at 2.12 and Germany’s Olympic finalist Raul Spank could have claimed exactly the same clean card as confirmation of his own form in qualification today. Spank, fifth in Beijing was the find of that final last summer and he looks a threat again.
Cyprus’ World indoor and outdoor bronze medallist was another to master 2.30 today from Pool A, though it took him three attempts to get past 2.27 before succeeding at the automatic qualifier on his second approach to that bar. Italy’s Filippo Campioli struggled identically at 2.27 too and while also over 2.30 needed all three tries at that height as well before successful.
There was only one automatic qualification in Pool B, with Russia's Aleksey Dmitrik, another who was troubled at 2.27 (three attempts) this evening, sailing over 2.30 on his second effort.
But the story from the second group was the loss of one of the pre-event favourites, Linus Thörnblad of Sweden who after taking his first two heights on his first approaches was floored at 2.22, and so ended up with just 2.17 far below qualification. This was not a happy birthday present for the Swede, the 2006 World Indoor bronze medallist and 2007 European Indoor silver medallist, who was marking his 24th birthday today.
800m - Claesson’s looking good but Borza and Quesada keep it wide open
In a largely uneventful 800m first round, Sweden’s Mattias Claesson, fifth at these championships in Birmingham in 2007 was the class of the second heat and this entire first qualifying process, effortlessly carving out a largely front run victory. His 1:47.83 was his season’s best, the 2005 European Junior champion easing up for most of the last straight.
That’s not taking anything away of course from 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy, who took this indoor title back in 2000, and who produced an immaculately timed assault in the fourth and final heat to stave off Spain’s Miguel Quesada, the silver medallist two years ago – 1:48.10 to 1:48.37. The crowd had become briefly and very noisily animated when Italy’s Lukas Rifeser (1:48.49) led the field into the final laps, they were rewarded by his qualification as one of the fastest losers overall.
A slow opening heat this afternoon as taken around for most of its duration by Finn Robert Rotkirch who was himself ultimately taken on the final lap in an assured manner by Poland’s Adam Kszczot (1:52.07) with Spain’s Manuel Olmedo squeezing inside the Finn in the last 20 metres to take the second automatic qualification spot (1:52.24).
The third heat was even slower but brought with it a second Polish success via Marcin Lewandowski in 1:54.19.
The biggest surprise of the round was the loss of Poland’s Pawel Czapiewski who was fifth and last in Claesson’s heat in 1:51.39, a sad exit for the 2002 champion.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
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