European Indoor Championships, Birmingham
European Gold for Idowu and Gillick
Day Two
High Jump:
With some big jumps behind him this winter, including a personal record of 2.27m, there was just the chance that Samson Oni could squeeze into the final. The automatic qualifying height was 2.30m but only three men had attained that in qualifying group A, so when the B men came into the arena it was pretty certain that a leap of 2.27m would be enough. It was - but unfortunately Samson was not one of those who achieved it. He cleared 2.23m on his second attempt but on this day he was unable to equal his best and make the cut at the next height.
=10QB S Oni 2.23 (2.13o, 2.18o, 2.23xo, 2.27xxx).
Commonwealth Champion - and now European Indoor Champion
Triple Jump:
There was something in the way that Phillips handled qualifying that gave hopes that this would be a very good competition for the Belgravian - event though he was not tipped as a medallist by Athletics Weekly. As is often the way in this event, it was the opening round that did the damage. A massive Idowu effort of 17.56m set the standard and although Nathan Douglas worked hard and set two personal records, it was Phillips' jump that took the gold. It was far and away his best ever jump indoors and compares well with his best outdoor mark of 17.68m, set when placing 2nd in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Commonwealth Champion - and now European Indoor Champion - this man's career could have a long way to go.
Afterwards Phillips revealed on TV:
"Wow - that was close! My aim today was to get a big first jump in and then be a spectator for the rest of the competition. I have to give credit to Nathan though, he made me carry on jumping! It's great to be able to call myself "European Champion". The atmosphere was fantastic and the crowd really gave me a lift. I had to wait until the last round to be really sure that I'd won as Nathan kept going further and further. For us to get a GB 1-2 is great."
1 P Idowu (GB&NI) 17.56 WL CR (17.56, 17.25, -, 14.12, 16.47,x); 2 N Douglas (GB&NI) 17.47; 3 A Sergeyev (Russia) 17.15.
David Gillick retains his European title
400m:
From the way the semi-finals were run it looked certain that the first lap of the 400 metres final would be very fast. It was, with the German Swillims making the running and going through 200 metres in 21.17. At that pace the only thing that defending champion David Gillick could do was hang in there - and it turned out to be the perfect tactic. With the field strung out, Gillick kept close to the German and sure enough, his powerful finish allowed him to overhaul the erstwhile leader in the dying seconds of the race. A marvellous win and to take the title twice in a row is the mark of a real champion.
David's thoughts:
"I knew if I was going to win that I had to get myself to the inside at the break. To do that, I had to go out fast at the start. Swillims went off so hard that I just had to stay with him and wait. I knew in the last 50 metres I would have him. To compete, I know I've got to go out and take the race by the scruff of the neck. This season has taught me that I've got the strength to do that."
1 D Gillick (Ireland) 45.52 Irish Record EL; 2 B Swillims (Germany) 45.62; 3 R Tobin (GB&NI) 46.15.
Day One
400m: Defending Champion David Gillick of Ireland and Belgrave was second fastest in the first round, winning his heat with 46.70. Fastest was Germany's Bastian Swillims, 46.08, and Swillims was again impressive in the semi-finals, recording an unpressed 45.92, just outside Gillick's European leading mark of 45.91. The second semi-final saw Britain's Robert Tobin take the lead and then fight strongly down the back straight and final bend to hold off Gillick. But the Irishman came again to take the win.
1s2 D Gillick 46.16 (1h2 46.70).
Triple Jump: A leap of 16.90 metres was required for an automatic advance to Saturday's final. Phillips Idowu turned in a first effort of 16.82m and then confidently sat out the next two rounds in the belief that he had done enough and making sure that his previously bruised heel was not tested more than necessary. His judgement was spot on as his jump turned out to be third best of the day.
3Q P Idowu 16.82 (16.82, -, -)
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.