Jacobs at the World Athletics Championships wins the battery of 60 in 6’53

Good first: Marcell Jacobs, at the Indoor World Championships in Belgrade, easily overcomes the first round of 60 and makes an appointment tonight at 6.40 pm for the semifinal. The blue wins the fifth of seven heats in 6 ”53, the third time of the morning. Better is only the most anticipated rivals, the Americans Marvin Bracy (6 ”46) and Christian Coleman (6” 51).

The race

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Jacobs is in the fifth lane: the reaction to the shot (0 ”132) is of quality. But then the starting a bit cumbersome. So much so that to his right the trinidegno Jerod Elcoock, a 6 ”60, manages to join him for a few meters. When Marcell starts the car, however, he digs a chasm. In acceleration he makes the difference. So much so that in the last race he can also relax. The final time trial, without damaging oneself, must be evaluated in perspective. In the heats of the five meetings he took part in this season, he did better only once: in Lodz, on 11 February, with 6 ”51. “It was important to pass the shift – he says – and save energy in view of the next ones. When I realized I was in front, I gave up. The next will be different races. Everyone follows their own strategy. I was expecting Coleman to immediately look for the bang to prove he was number one, but who pushed it all the way was Bracy, who obviously wanted to scare us. I still have to figure out how to best interpret this very particular track: maybe I pushed the first supports too much, I sunk a bit. We need to calibrate better. But with strong opponents at your side, it will be easier to shoot 100% “.

The opponents

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Coleman is confirmed as the opponent to beat. The defending champion, in the first heats, pushes (not at all) for about fifty meters, then lets himself go, and yet closes with a 6 ”51 which promises no little. Bracy, already silver at Sopot 2014, impresses: definitely at ease on a very elastic coat, flies in 6 ”46, fresh personal improved by 2/100. Behind him is also the Qatari Femi Ogunode: 6 ”52. Jacobs thus passes with the fourth time trial. Followed, both with 6 ”55, the Ivorian Arthur Cissè, old acquaintance and the surprising Estonian Karl Erik Nazarov, capable of the national record. Nothing to do for Giovanni Galbieri: the Veronese is fifth in Bracy’s battery in 6 ”66 and eliminated, even with the 22nd time.

Other blues

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Elisa Di Lazzaro instead advances in the semifinal of the 60 obstacles. The Trieste, with 8 ”16, is third in her battery and thus hits the direct qualification (with the 21st overall time). Red disco instead for Elena Bellò in the 800: the Vicenza is fifth in the first battery in 2’02 ”35. For her final prohibited.