Aleksandr Averbukh on the runway to 5.81m in Gent (© Nadia Verhoft)
Marian Oprea of Romania offered the KBC Indoor – IAAF indoor permit – meeting a cracking start when he leapt 17.42m in the very first round of the Triple Jump. By the end of the afternoon Aleksandr Averbukh of Israel had won the Pole Vault with 5.81m and in between Blanka Vlasic of Croatia showed great jumping form when clearing the High Jump bar at 2.00m. Moroccans Adil Kaouch and Mariem Alaoui Selsouli were outstanding in the 3000m. The home crowd was delighted with the 60m win of Kim Gevaert, and with a national High Jump record of 1.96m by Tia Hellebaut.
Oprea outclasses opponents
Oprea took off before the board but landed at 17.42m on his first attempt. “I’m not used to this kind of track, it felt too hard for me. My ankle is a little bit sore and I didn’t want to take any risks further on. I’m going to the World Championships as a favourite, but you can never be sure of winning a title. I’m just hoping to win a medal. But the way I’m jumping these days, the World (indoor) record is always in the air.”
Jadel Gregorio (BRA) was no threat today and finished second with 16.82m.
Vlasic consistent at 2.00m
She’s 1.92m tall herself, but the elegance and the regularity with which she clears High Jump bars at 2.00m and higher is even more impressive. Croatian Blanka Vlasic dominated the women’s High Jump, as she’s already done so many times this winter.
“I’m happy with 2.00m today, in fact now I’m reaching the level that I have the talent and the potential for,” confirmed the Croatian. “I have been training without injury or health problems for quite some time now and that explains my good form. I don’t like to think about becoming the world champion, I just want to get a medal in Moscow.”
Vita Styopina (UKR) won the duel for second place against Tia Hellebaut, both clearing 1.96m.
Averbukh feels happy in Gent
“I became the European champion on this runway in 2000,” commented Averbukh. “There is something about this venue and about the atmosphere here that makes me feel good and happy. And that’s what I need to jump well.”
Aleksandr Averbukh jumped to the third best performance of the current season with 5.81m today, but that didn’t change his ambitions for the World Indoor Championships: “I’m just going to Moscow to compete, that’s all. I’m not taking any pressure on my back. I look at pole vaulting as my job. And I want to do my job well.” Pole vault rookie of this season Spas Bukhalov (BUL) had to settle for second with 5.61m.
Gevaert gets better through the races
In the women’s 60m heats, Kim Gevaert had to push it harder than she would have wanted it, with Sylvie M’Balla (CMR) strongly fighting on her right shoulder. “I feel more comfortable when there are heats and finals”, said Gevaert before the race. “It gets me sharp”. Gevaert was more than right, because in the final she blasted away and sprinted through the finish line in 7.14. That shaved six hundredths off her seasonal best 60m performance. “I was happy with my acceleration phase, a bit less with my starting action. But 7.14 gives me enough confidence to pack my bags for Moscow. It’s really a pleasure to run in front of my fans here in Gent.”
The men’s sprint was won by Mark Findlay (GBR), who equalled his seasonal best performance in 6.62. “I’m a poor starter and I wanted to be in the mix at 30m. The strongest part of my race is between 30m and 60m, that’s why. I’m one of the older guys around in British sprinting. I’m 27 now, but I’ve taken up training more serious now than I ever did before.”
Battling Mutola beaten by Cherkasova
Twenty minutes after her 800m race Maria Mutola was still laying on the warm-up track, looking exhausted. She had battled bravely and lost. Russian Svetlana Cherkasova was in front with two laps to go, with Mutola hanging on her shoulder. The Mozambiquan produced a strong sprinting effort in the last bend, but the Russian stretched and withstood. “The opening pace of 57.4 at 400m was just fine, I was OK and the tactics were right,” said Mutola. “Cherkasova was just stronger today. 2:00.81 will not be enough to contend for the medals in Moscow, I will need to run better. Anyway, it’s faster than I did in Glasgow”, said the six time World Indoor champion.
The same tactics led to the men’s 800m victory for Majed Saeed Sultan. The 19-year-old Qatari held off late charges from Abdulrahman Suleiman (QAT) and from Joseph Mutua (KEN) to win in 1:47.95. “That’s a personal best and I’m happy with it. I’m a front runner by nature, but I didn’t expect to win this race against such a strong field,” said Sultan.
Selsouli destroys 3000m personal best
Olesya Chumakova (RUS) took the pace through 2:54 at 1000m. Jo Pavey (GBR) took the initiative at 1800m and crossed the 2000m at 5:50. Only Yelena Sidorchenkova and Mariem Alaoui Selsouli were able to follow. Surprisingly, it was the young Moroccan who attacked in the last 600m and came triumphantly through the finish in 8:41.67. “Unbelievable, this is my first 3000m indoors,” said Selsouli. “I just tried to follow the pace and when I looked behind my back, there was the three of us in front. My coaches told me 8:50 or 8:52 could be within reach, but 8:41 is fabulous. It overwhelms me. Don’t ask me about my ambitions for the World Championships. It’s so exciting for me to participate there. First, I need more time to realise what has happened to me today,” said the 21 year old Moroccan.
There will be more celebrations for the Moroccan delegation tonight with Adil Kaouch and Hicham Bellani dominating the men’s 3000m. Halil Akkas (TUR) set the race on fire at the 2000m mark but both Moroccons geared up for a shattering effort. Kaouch was the strongest finisher in 7:44.22.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
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