Poland on the right way to Munich
Nobody wouldn`t have thought that before - the polish athletes had won four Gold medals, one Silver medal and one Bronce medal at the European Indoor Championships in Vienna. First of all the men dominated the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and the 4 x 400 m relay. It was the most sucessful European Championships for the country in East- Europe since Sindelfingen 1980.
Pawel Czapiewski (Foto: Kiefner)
And it could absolutely expect that the athletes from Warschau, Krakau and Slubice in Munich will fight again for a lot of medals.The winner Marcin Urbas (200 m), Marek Plawgo (400 m), the 4 x 400 m relay und Pawel Czapiewski, who was running polish record in the 800 m in 1:44,78 min, want to be interventionist again.
In the outdoor season Urbas already was running 20,40 sek. In the updated European List follow the 20 year old Marcin Jedruinski in 20,54 sek and Plawgo in 20,61 sek.
Actually Marek Plawgo is a 400 m hurdles runner - 2001 he is listed in 48,16 sek, which ist a new national record. And this year he already was running 48,25 sek in Ostrava and came very closed to his best mark.
But the next 400 m runner already is on his mark. Piotr Rysiukiewicz was at the fourth place in Vieanna and he is not to be sneezed at.
Outstanding youngsters
2001 the Championships for the younger athletes like U23 Europeans and U18 World Championships showed clearly wherefrom the wind was coming.
Outstanding at the U23 Europeans in Amsterdam were the sprinters and 400 and 800 m runners. Altogether the talents won five Goldmedals, three silver and four Bronce. And at the U18 World Championships foraged Karol Grzegorcyk (46,90 sek) und Piotr Kedzia (47,12) the youngsters a double victory in the 400 m race.
Poland developed in the last years to a important center for the 400 m. And Irena Szewinska, Ex-Star in this event around the seventies and today the president of the polish Athletics federation is sure and says very proud: "We are on the right way to Munich."
But not only the runner are in a very good shape. In the hammerthrow want the polish fight for a medal too in the Olympicstadium. Even the Olympic and World Champion, Suymon Ziolkowski at the moment is not in his best shape, and missed the 80 m mark with his result from 79,78 m, you can be sure, that he will be fit in August.
And the second Olympic Champion of the country in East Europe, Robert Korzeniowski is one of the Topfavourites in the walking events. Obviously he will start in both disciplines - 20 km and 50 km.
The best athlete in the camp of the jumper, is Grzegorz Sposob, who had a Top result already this yeasr with 2,30 m in the higjump. Maybe he will follow the footsteps of Arthur Partyka, who dominated the highjumg in Poland a lot of years. He jumped this height in Ostrava as well. The best athlete in the javelin is at the moment Dariusz Trafas who throw 86,77 m.
Some very good women in a few events
At the women events it doesn`t look as good as at the men`s. But there are some hopefully talented young athletes, even it is to early for them to fight for a medal. Poland has some very good women in a few events.
One is Kamila Skolimowska, the World record holder in the hammerthrow at the juniors, who throw 2001 71,71 m will make her demands for a plqace at the podest. And Monika Pyrek, who is well known in the pole vault szene, has very good chances to fight for noble metal. At tho moment she is number three with 4,57 m in the list. The competitors should take care for the 25 year old Lidia Chojecka in the 1500 m. The polish women was running in Hengelo at the beginning of June 4:06,17 min. And this was not her last word. Big hope to reach the final in the 400 m hurdles in Munich have Anna Olichwierczuk und Malgorzata Pskit.
Ursula Kaiser
