Jolanda Ceplak after winning 2002 European Indoor title (© Getty Images)
Slovenia's Jolanda Ceplak ran her indoor season opener here last night at the TEAG International Indoor meeting in a brisk meeting 800m record of 1:59.25 but insisted she was not satisfied.
Ceplak's time the second quickest with which she has ever opened a year, took her to a 30 metres plus victory over Belgium's Sandra Stals.
"Unfortunately the race started 25 minutes late and my legs had stiffened up,'' confirmed the European Indoor champion and World Indoor record holder. "Otherwise I think you would have seen an even faster performance."
"I came here knowing I was in shape to break two minutes but with it being my first indoor race of the season, you don't know what is going to happen until you have a competition.''
Gardener gets faster
In the men's sprints, Britain's double European 60m champion Jason Gardener who opened his season last weekend in Glasgow with a fine win 6.54 win over 2001 World champion Tim Harden, continued in fine form last night speeding up to a 6.53 run.
After two false starts, firstly by American Brian Lewis, which led to Kareem Streete-Thompson (CAY), the second offender's removal from the race, Gardener got a away well powering to a win over Italy's Simone Collio (6.56) and Germany's Alexander Kosenkow (6.69).
Afterwards, the World Indoor championships bronze medallist admitted the false starts had added to the tension.
"With (Streete-Thompson) gone there was no-one in the next lane to feed off - and I got a terrible start. When there's nobody there it does make things difficult.''
Elsewhere, Jamaica's Davian Clarke broke his own three-year 400m record for this meeting by 0.18sec as he romped to an easy win in 46.23, while Kenyan William Yiampoy completed the 800m in 1:47.79.
In the women's Pole Vault, Russia's Tatyana Polnova's cleared 4.66m - also a meet best - to beat the World outdoor silver medallist Annika Becker of Germany (4.56m).
Jamaica's Maurice Wignall just edged out Yunier Hernandez of Cuba by 1/100sec in a thrilling 60m hurdles final. The Commonwealth 110m Hurdles bronze-medallist's dip for the line saw him just claim victory in a time of 7.57.
Hernandez, the former World Junior outdoor champion, held off the challenge of the USA's Duane Ross who finished third in 7.60.
Selected results -
Men
60m
1. Jason Gardener (GBR) 6.53, 2. Simona Collio (ITA) 6.58
400m
1. Davian Clarke (USA) 46.23
800m
1. William Yiampoy (KEN) 1:47.79, 2. Sylas Kimutai (KEN) 1:48.47, 3. Glody Dube (BOT) 1:48.87
60m Hurdles
1. Maurice Wignall (JAM) 7.56, 2. Yunier Hernandez (CUB) 7.57, 3. Duane Ross (USA) 7.60
Long jump
1. James Beckford (JAM) 7.93m
Pole vault
1. Tim Lobinger (GER) 5.61m, 2. Denis Iourtchenko (UKR) 5.61, 3. Jeff Hartwig (USA) 5.61
Women
60m
1. Karin Mayr (AUT) 7.22, 2. Gabi Rockmeier (GER) 7.38
400m
1. Claudia Marx (GER) 52.71, 2. Antonia Iefremova (UKR) 52.97
800m
1. Jolanda Ceplak (SLO) 1:59.25, 2. Sandra Stals (BEL) 2:03.66
60m hurdles
1. Juliane Sprenger (GER) 8.01, 2. Lacena Golding-Clarke (JAM) 8.03
Pole vault
1. Tatiana Polnova (RUS) 4.66m, 2. Annika Becker (GER) 4.56 Long jump
1. Sophie Krauel (GER) 6.48m
