| EMACI 2016: great competitions and fair play in Ancona – March 31, 2016 The European Masters Athletics Championships Indoor are continuing at a strong pace in Ancona. The third day is also the longest one, with competition until late evening, and there were two other world records which confirm the favorable conditions for athletes. |  |
In W50 triple jump Valentyna Krepkina of Ukraine lands at 10.77 overcoming a limit that has lasted for 13 years (10.69 by Poland’s Anna Wlodarczyk), while in 800 W85 Melitta Czerwenka-Nagel of Germany – the older woman in Ancona – clocks 4:09:58. European record by Spain’s Manuel Alonso in M80 800 meters with 3:00.63 and he also collects a great standing ovation. In the nearby “Italico Conti” stadium it stands out the presence of Raymond Hecht, German born in 1968 who represents here the France Team. European bronze medalist in Budapest 1998, he is the fifth alltime javelin thrower in the world (92.60 in 1995). Today, at the age of 47, he is able to soar in the M45 category with 62.40. Masters Athletics, though, is not just pure competitiveness. In fact, there has been a moment that triggered the applause of the Palaindoor when all the M60 and M65 race walkers stayed on the track after the 3000 meters finish line to encourage other atletes until the end. Also almost world records, in a series of exciting challenges which tear claps from the audience: in triple jump M55 German Wolfgang Knabe misses it of a single centimetre with 13.48, while compatriot Petra Herrmann (W55) of just three centimetres.
Luca Cassai
translated by Barbara Greco (FIDAL)
PHOTO
Valentyna Krepkina (FotoGP / FIDAL Marche)