Belgrade Indoor Meeting Report: Stunning Performances Mark World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold Event

Posted by: Watch Athletics

The Belgrade Indoor Meeting, the second Gold-level fixture on the World Athletics Indoor Tour, delivered thrilling performances on January 29. Top athletes from around the world showcased their early-season form, with Nadine Visser, Thobias Montler, Zaynab Dosso, and Ronnie Baker among the standout performers.

Nadine Visser Wins the Women’s 60m Hurdles in 7.86

Two-time European indoor champion Nadine Visser delivered a stellar season opener, clocking 7.86 seconds to claim victory in the women’s 60m hurdles final. She edged out world indoor bronze medallist Pia Skrzyszowska (7.91), Ireland’s Sarah Lavin (7.97), and 2023 European indoor champion Reetta Hurske from Finland (8.03). Visser narrowly missed her national record by 0.09 seconds but signaled strong form ahead of the upcoming championships.

Women’s 60m Hurdles Heats:

Visser laid down a marker early, clocking the fastest time in the heats with 7.94, comfortably defeating Finland’s Reetta Hurske (8.08). Meanwhile, Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska won the second heat in 8.01, edging Ireland’s Sarah Lavin, who recorded the same time.

Nadine Visser: “It’s always special to open the season and see where you are. You never know exactly what to expect in competition. In the heats, I was a bit sluggish, but I improved in the final. I’m happy with the result.”

Pia Skrzyszowska: “The competition was great, and the atmosphere was fantastic. I’m not 100% satisfied with my race, but it’s just the start of the season. I hope to build momentum and maintain my form for the European and World Championships.”

Men’s Long Jump: Montler Stuns Tentoglou with 8.23m

Sweden’s Thobias Montler soared to a season’s best of 8.23m in the fifth round, clinching victory in the men’s long jump. USA’s Isaac Grimes finished second with 8.13m, while Bulgaria’s Borhidar Saraboyukov took an early lead with an 8.06m first-round jump.

Olympic and world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou struggled to find his rhythm, opening with 7.56m and improving to 7.83m in the third round. He briefly moved into second place with an 8.05m jump in the fifth round, but Montler responded with a decisive 8.23m, matching his performance at the 2022 Belgrade Indoor Grand Prix.

For the first time since 2019, Tentoglou finished outside the top three, settling for fourth place with his 8.05m effort.

Thobias Montler: “This is an incredible way to start the season. The crowd was amazing, and I’m grateful for their support. This is just the beginning.”

Miltiadis Tentoglou: “The competition was good—no complaints. I was improving as the event progressed, but I made a mistake on my last jump by being behind the board. I’m still satisfied with my performance.”

Men’s 60m Final: Ronnie Baker Sprints to Victory in 6.53

Ronnie Baker, the 2018 World Indoor bronze medallist, powered to victory in the men’s 60m final, setting a meeting record of 6.53. The American sprinter, who holds the third-fastest time in history (6.40), demonstrated impressive early-season speed.

The Netherlands’ Raphael Bouju secured second place in 6.56, narrowly edging out USA’s Coby Hilton and European indoor bronze medallist Henrik Larsson, who both clocked 6.57.

Ronnie Baker: “I felt really good for my first race of the year. This was as fast as I had hoped for in my early meets. I finished last season with 6.52, so running 6.53 in my first race is exciting.”

Men’s 60m Heats:

Baker comfortably won his heat in 6.58, while Germany’s 200m champion Joshua Hartmann matched his time in the second heat, narrowly beating Coby Hilton by 0.02 seconds.

Women’s 60m: Dosso Dominates with Meeting Record

Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, the world indoor bronze medallist, stormed to victory in her heat, setting a meeting record of 7.08, just 0.06 seconds shy of her national record. She recorded the second-fastest time in the world this year, narrowly missing the world-leading mark of 7.07 set by Patrizia Van der Weken.

Australia’s Torrie Lewis, the World U20 silver medallist, impressed with a 7.22-second run, finishing ahead of Switzerland’s Ajla Del Ponte (7.30), the 2021 European indoor champion.

Women’s 60m Final:

Dosso maintained her dominance, winning the final in 7.12, narrowly beating Torrie Lewis (7.14) and Orlann Oliere Ombissa Dzangue (7.20).

Zaynab Dosso: “It was a great competition. This was my first race of the year, so I’m happy with the start. I still have room for improvement. My coach and I have worked hard this winter, and I’m looking forward to my upcoming races in Poland (Lodz on February 8 and Torun on February 16) before the Italian Championships.”

Women’s High Jump: Topic Triumphs with 1.92m Clearance

Serbia’s Angelina Topic, the European outdoor silver medallist, claimed victory in the women’s high jump with a 1.92m clearance on her third attempt. She made strong attempts at 1.97m, which would have equaled her Serbian indoor record.

Montenegro’s Marija Vukovic, the 2022 European silver medallist, finished second with 1.90m, failing to clear 1.92m.

Men’s 400m: Molnar Smashes Hungarian Indoor Record

Hungary’s Attila Molnar made an emphatic statement, winning the men’s 400m in 45.66, breaking his own national indoor record and setting a meeting record. His compatriot Patrick Simon Enyingi secured second place in 46.27, followed by USA’s Brian Faust (46.36).

Attila Molnar: “This is an incredible start to the season. The energy from the crowd was amazing. I believe I can go even faster in my next races.”

Women’s 800m: Coiro Sprints to Victory in Tactical Race

Italy’s Eloisa Coiro, a World Indoor semifinalist, executed a well-timed kick to win the women’s 800m in 2:01.98. Slovenia’s Anita Horvat surged late to finish second in 2:02.03, just ahead of Switzerland’s Lore Hoffmann (2:02.28).

Eloisa Coiro: “It’s always great to win a World Indoor Tour Gold race. It was a tactical competition without pacemakers, and I had enough energy in the final stretch to take the win.”

Men’s Shot Put: Steen Secures Victory with 20.94m Throw

USA’s Roger Steen dominated the men’s shot put, securing victory with a 20.94m effort in the second round. Romania’s Andrei Toader finished second with 20.85m, while Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki placed third with 20.40m.

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