European champions Jessica Schilder and Leonardo Fabbri flexed their competitive muscles with confidence-boosting victories at the Hvězdy v Nehvizdech in Czechia on Wednesday (19).
The shot put gold medallists from Roma 2024 will be seeking to add the indoor titles at Apeldoorn 2025 next month and both are on the right trajectory with fine victories at the World Indoor Tour silver meeting.
Schilder beats world champion
Schilder got the better of world indoor champion Sarah Mitton, the Dutch athlete unleashed a third round 19.97m to take the win by 33cm from the Canadian. Portugal’s Jessica Inchude was third with 18.58m.
Schilder, fifth at the last two European Athletics Indoor Championships, is moving into form ahead of a medal bid in from of her home fans in Apeldoorn on 6-9 March.
Fabulous Fabbri
In the men’s competition, Fabbri went beyond 21 metres for the third competition in a row. The Italian took charge with an opening throw of 21.31m and with victory secured, round off with a closing effort of 21.45m to seal the win.
Training partner and defending European indoor champion Zane Weir was second with 21.19m. Third place was home favourite Tomas Stanek with a best of 20.88m.
There were also high jump competitions at the intimate two discipline meeting, including a domestic level women’s competition and in the men’s competition, Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu won with 2.25m, ahead of Belgium’s European indoor bronze medallist Thomas Carmoy with a best clearance of 2.22m.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics