Hrysopoyi Devetzi of Greece wins silver in the women's Triple Jump (© Getty Images)
Although only one of the Greek medallists from last summer’s Olympic Games is in the national side which will compete this week at the European Indoor Championships, the 26-member-squad announced over the weekend includes some names with good prospects for Madrid.
Devetzi heads the Greek squad
Undoubtedly, Hrysopiyi ‘Pigi’ Devetzi, the triple jump silver medallist of the Olympic Games, is the most impressive name among the Greek athletes who are going to Madrid.
Devetzi, reserved two surprises last week for her compatriots. First, she announced her decision to stop training with Sofia Bakatsaki, the woman who took her to the Olympic podium. Thanassis Sioundris, the coach of the country’s most successful male triple jumper, Christos Meletoglou, is her new coach.
“She has an extremely strong background, this year she will shine” were the first words of the coach, after the announcement of his collaboration with the Olympic medallist.
The second pleasant surprise was her decision to participate in the European Indoor Championships. Although she is in a period of hard training, Devetzi said that she feels in a good shape and wants to participate in the competition.
The federation included her name to the team along with two more athletes in the women’s Triple Jump, Athanasia Perra, 22, who jumped a personal best of 14.27m in the “Athina 2005” IAAF indoor permit meeting, and Irene Dimitraki, 24, who also set a personal best, jumping 14.23m in the same meet.
A very interesting entry is this of Konstantinos Zalagitis in the men’s event. Zalagitis returned after an injury period of two years, setting a national record with 16.95m this season. Having jumped an outdoor personal best of 17.43m, he has the potential for a good appearance in Madrid.
Kokloni wants another medal
Georgia Kokloni, 24, won the bronze medal in the 60m, two years ago in Vienna, and was the European under-23 champion in 2003. Now she targets another medal, although she has to face with strong rivals in the event. She will be joined in the dash by 21-year-old Maria Karastamati, who has improved race by race this winter. Karastamati, is considered to be one of the most promising Greek athletes and has a season’s best of 7.24, while Kokloni has run the 60m in 7.18 this year.
Filippidis with a double target
The new young male star of the country, Konstantinos Filippidis attempted in the Balkan Games for a new world indoor junior best in the men’s Pole Vault. His attempts at 5.67 were not successful, but now he travels to Madrid attempting two objectives: the record and a place in the final of the event. It will be the first major senior competition in the career of the 19-year-old vaulter, who placed fourth in the World Juniors Championships in Grosseto last year.
Tsatoumas, Pilatou and Koutsioumari in the Long Jump
Luis Tsatoumas, the 2001 European U23 champion set a national Long Jump record this year with 8.15m and, currently, he holds the third position in the season’s list for Europe. Sergios Nousios, with 7.91m this year, is the second Greek participant in the event.
Stella Pilatou has a season’s best of 6.62m and participates in the women’s event, along with the second Greek this year, Panayota Koutsioumari who has jumped 6.48m.
Theodoridis and the new generation in the 60m
Georgios Theodoridis has already won medals in major indoor championships, being second in the World Championships last year and third in the European Championships in 2000. An injury which happened to him during the Balkan Games forced him to abandon the only race he has participated this year. If the injury problems have been resolved then Theodoridis has the experience to qualify for the final and achieve one more important performance in it.
A sprinter of the new generation, Efthimios Stergioulis, 20, with a season’s best of 6.67 is also included in the Greek team for Madrid.
Anastasios Gousis, a semi-finalist of the Olympic Games, as well as Panayotis Sarris, will take their positions in the blocks for the 200m. Sarris has a season’s best of 21.21, while Gousis has run only one race, in 21.35.
More entries…
Konstantina Efentaki set national records this year in 1500m and 3000m, with 4.08.73 and 8.53.95, securing her participation in the championships.
In the women’s 60m Hurdles, a Greek duo targets the final. Flora Redoumi with 8.04 this season and the young hurdler, Georgia Stoyannidou, who set a personal best of 8.16 in the Balkan Games. Alexandros Theofanov with a personal best of 7.75 participates in the men’s event.
Maria Papadopoulou with 2:05.18 will run in the 800m, while a team, which consists of Georgia Koumnaki, Eleftheria Papadopoulou, Maria Papadopoulou, Eleni Filanda and Anna Moesiadou will try for the best in 4x400m women’s Relay.
Michalis Nikitaridis for the IAAF
