- Athletics season is coming to an end. After the World Championships in Eugene in July and the European Championships in Munich, which ended on Sunday, the Diamond League encounters remain the most important competition. Taking place on Friday in Lausanne and a week later in Brussels, the finale of this year’s series is set to take place over two days from September 7-8 in Zurich.
- Pia Skrzyszowska is not in the eight planned for the 100m race in Lausanne, although she is undoubtedly in better shape than some of the invited competitors. Continental runner-up, Natalia Kachmarek, who will run into Friday’s meeting and could resign from the upcoming competition – in Brussels – has a comfortable position.
- To qualify for the finals of the Diamond League in Zurich – Polish women must be in the top eight in the general classification in their competitions. Kaczmarek is currently in fourth place, Kiełbasińska – eighth, and Skrzyszowska – ninth
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European 400m runner-up Natalia Kachmarek is virtually certain she will rise to the Diamond League’s most important meeting of the season in Zurich (7-8 September), in which the winners will be the winners of this year’s series. Anna Kubaska, the third competitor in the singles lap competition in Munich, is also close to achieving that goal.
The situation is more complicated for European 100m hurdles gold medalist Pia Skrzyszowska, but a high place in the upcoming competition – September 2 in Brussels – could also ensure the 21-year-old takes part in one of the finest start to the final season.
Lausanne formula is pre-created
On the lists of participants for the Friday meeting in Lausanne – the eleventh of the 13 planned for this year – there are the names of 24-year-old Kaczmarek and 32-year-old Kiełbasińska. It is in vain that we are looking for our great player there.
– Can change if any of the contracted players miss the start or get injured. Unfortunately, this is the only possibility, because the Lausanne lineup was determined shortly after the world championship, and partly even before it – explains Jaroslav Skrzyzowski, father and coach of the European champions, in an interview with Przegląd Sportowy Onet.
– Pia is in a high position, so if she had gotten an invitation at the last minute, she probably started there. However, her performance in Brussels was confirmed – she adds the two-time European medalist’s father (she also won the silver medal in the 4x100m relay).
It is a pity that in the “Diamond” 100-meter hurdles classification Skrzyszowska is currently ninth (7 points after two appearances), and eight of the top riders will qualify for the final in Zurich. It is a pity, then, that in this year’s series the competition at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzów (August 6), where Pia set a life record (12.51) and a European under-23 record, was not only registered .
The Polish woman finished fourth there, but ran with the world’s stars on the Silesian stadium like an “extra”, although of course it was the Diamond League competition, the first in history to be held in Poland.
Among the direct competitors of Pia in the ascent are the Swiss Detaji Kamponge (14th – 3 points), the Dutch Nadine Visser (11 – 6 points) or … the former world record holder, American Kendra Harrison (8.- 8 points). Jamaica’s Danielle Williams (6-9 points) or France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela (7-9 points) will not appear, and these Biya contestants could “jump” if they are successful next Friday.
– If he’s in the top three or four in Brussels, it seems to me that he might be enough for a promotion – says Skrzyszowski. – We have no influence on Pia not appearing in Lausanne. There were only eight seats. The squad included a local player from Kambundja, who ran well in Munich (won a bronze medal – editor’s note), as well as Dutch Visser, promoter of this meeting since May – adds Pia’s father.
In Lausanne, the biggest star of this competition will be the world champion and record holder (12.12), Nigerian Toby Amosan, the aforementioned Harrison, as well as two other Eugene World Championship medalists – Jamaica’s Brittany Anderson and Puerto Rican Yasmin Camacho – Quinn the winner of the Games.
Without Fimc Paul. Opportunity for Polish women
Skrzyszowski, along with Laurent Meuwly, also trained Kiełbasińska. – The little question mark about her start in Lausanne is that after several tours in Munich she felt a slight soreness in her muscles. It’s not really infected, but it needs to be checked. If it turns out to be nothing serious, he will definitely run – says the coach.
In the 400m classification, after two matches in the Diamond League, Anna is eighth (10 points) and has a safe advantage over Dutchman Lake Claver (11 – 4 points), who is also set to appear on Friday. In contrast, her compatriot, triple European champion (also 400m flat – 49.44 in Munich) Vimck Paul (9-8 points) in Lausanne will focus on her crowning competition – 400m hurdles. Olympic and world champion, fastest of the season (49.11) Shauna Miller Uibo of the Bahamas, will not participate either.
In this case, the most dangerous competitors for the favorite Kaczmarek (in August 49.86 and 49.94) will be the silver and bronze medalist of the July World Championships, namely Marillida Paulino of the Dominican Republic (49.49) and Sada Williams of Barbados (49.75), as well as Jamaican Candice McLeod, who gave a great performance in Monaco on August 10 (49.87).
The Polish vice-champion of Europe in the Diamond League ranking took fourth place (17 points after three matches) and – as her coach Marek Ruggie told us – will allow herself the comfort of resigning from the next meeting in Brussels, because her participation in the finals in Zurich is not threatened by anything.
Now it will run as a bonus!
– Natalia did not want to start in Brussels anymore. It’s the end of the season, and it has the right to tire you out both physically and mentally. And we’re not in a position where we’d like a lot of starts. An upgrade to Zurich is virtually guaranteed. In every 400m Diamond League meeting, practically the same players take part, so it won’t happen that enough competitors will suddenly overtake them to get out of the eight – as Rosa’s coach explained.
Will Kaczmarek run under 50 seconds again on Friday in Lausanne – as on August 6 in Chorzów and eleven days later in Munich?
– She can still afford it, because she is fully prepared for this season, which she has proven in subsequent races. Although now it has more than one question. I certainly would not pressure Natalia for a specific result or for a specific place – adds Roge.
Kazmarek leaves for Lausanne on Thursday after three days in Poland.
Breaking 50 seconds is not so easy, a lot will also depend on the renewal after the European Championship and Natalia’s mental attitude. After all, everything that is most important has already happened this season. The start after Munich will indeed be a bonus. However, I think that Natalia will still find the ambition and will to fight her opponents. The stakes in Lausanne will be very high, after all, the world championship medalists – Paulino and Williams will run into the race. As for McLeod, she lost this season to Natalia in a direct fight, not counting the semi-finals in Eugene. But it was there that Natalia had health problems – the coach of Poland mentions the vice-champion of the continent.
This season, Kaczmarek started in three more matches: on Friday in Lausanne, on September 4 in Olsztyn, and four days later in the Diamond League final in Zurich. The second performance may be intriguing, because at the monument to Zbigniew Ludwichowski, the 24-year-old is 200 meters tall.
– The second memorial to coach Ludwichowski, with whom Konrad Bukovitsky, a friend of Natalia, grew up in Olsztyn. He was also a good friend of mine, and we often went to training camps. Karol Zalowski is also a pupil of coach Ludwichowski. The purpose of the parade is mainly to honor the memory of the outstanding coach – says coach Rożej.
– A year ago, at the end of the season, Natalia also appeared in Olsztyn and, despite the unfavorable weather, broke her life record in the 200 m race (23.56 with headwind -1.5 m / s – editor’s note). It was raining, maybe 12 or 14 degrees. So if the weather doesn’t bother you, there might be a new personal best. In Munich, after 200 meters, she reached 23.5, and she still had the second part of the distance ahead – remember the coach.
Of course, Zurich will be the most important and prestigious start. Can 24-year-old Kacharek, the second-fastest Polish woman at the 400m after Irina Szyveska (country record 49.28 from 1976), stand high in the Diamond League final?
Natalia is a professional and I think Zurich is starting again with a good result. She has already settled into the Diamond League meetings, but she will start without pressure. Like I said, recent starts are already a bonus for the entire season. And how will Natalia’s most dangerous competitors be prepared? It is difficult to conclude. It was different with the start of the last season – the coach confirms.
End of season bonus
A performance in Zurich will also be an opportunity to get a fairly big bonus at the end of the season. While the top three female players and men in the Diamond League singles meet earn 10, 6, and 3.5K respectively. Gap. (2-0.5 thousand for places 4-8), the final will be awarded in Zurich with prizes of 30, 12 and 7 thousand. Gap. (4-1 thousand for deposits 4-8).
Taking into account the other Poles, Damien Cheeker (fifth in the 100m in Lt) is also close to reaching the final in Zurich, and Michau Rozmes (ninth in the 1500m) and Konrad Bukowitz (fifth in throwing) have chances as well. The three are scheduled to perform in Lausanne on Friday. The starting roster also includes the European Championship bronze medalist in the 800m, Anna Willgos, although this time she will not be included in the course classification.
When it comes to distances from 100 to 800 metres – 8 of the top competitors will take part in the final competition of the Diamond League in Zurich. In jumps and throws, 6 places are provided for them, and at distances of 1500 meters and more – 10 places.
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