Poland’s European 400m champion Natalia Bukowiecka (formerly Kaczmarek) is set to return to action this weekend (22-23) as a host of national championships take place across Europe as athletes compete for selection for the upcoming Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships on 6-9 March.
In a boost for Poland’s medal hopes in the individual and 4x400m relay events, the 27 year old has confirmed her return to action at the Polish Indoor Championships in Toruń after overcoming some minor injury concerns that kept her on the sidelines in recent weeks.
Olympic 400m bronze medallist Bukowiecka will be joined by European indoor 60m hurdles silver medallist Jakob Szymanski, World indoor 60m hurdles bronze medallist Pia Skrzyszowska, and world indoor 60m silver medallist Ewa Swoboda in the high quality domestic event that doubles as trial for Apeldoorn 2025.
Dutch vying for selection at home championships
Perhaps the highest stakes of all will come in the venue set to host the European Athletics Indoor Championships, with Dutch athletes vying for places in the home team at their National Championships in Apeldoorn (22-23).
It was at this event where Femke Bol broke the world record over 400m in each of the last two years.
This time, with Bol prioritising the relays in Apeldoorn 2025, the spotlight turns to training partner and European indoor silver medallist Lieke Klaver who will be looking to lay down a significant marker over 400m ahead of the major event of the European indoor season.
Distance running prodigy Niels Laros is entered for the men’s 1500m and 3000m and will be seeking to extend his excellent winter form which saw him win U20 gold at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in December and set a the Dutch 3000m record (7:29.49) with a recent victory in Lieven (13).
European outdoors champion from Roma 2024, Jessica Schilder is entered for the women’s shot put.
Record breaking Skotheim entered for Baerum
At the Norwegian Indoor Championships in Bærum (21-23), newly anointed European men’s heptathlon record holder Sander Skotheim will warm up for Apeldoorn 2025 in the high jump. Meanwhile, one of the standout athletes of the indoor season, Henriette Jæger women’s world leader over 400m, is entered both the women’s 200m and 400m.
Diaz Hernandez targetting championships debut
At the Italian Indoor Championships in Ancona (22-23), there is a real depth of quality in the field events. Olympic triple jump bronze medallist Andy Diaz Hernandez will be seeking to defend his national indoor title and earn his place at his first ever European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Training partners and European champions outdoors and indoors Leonardo Fabbri and Zane Weir will resume their friendly rivalry in the men’s shot. Whilst in the women’s long jump, European silver medallist indoors and outdoors Larissa Iapichino is looking to bag a confidence-boosting performance ahead of Apeldoorn 2025.
In the sprints, world indoor bronze medallist Zaynab Dosso is another athlete looking to send a message across the continent in the women’s 60m.
Kambundji sisters poised for action in St Gallen
At the Swiss Indoor Championships in St Gallen (22-23), sisters Mujinga and Ditaji Kambundji are entered. Mujinga, a prolific medallist on the international stage, is the defending European indoor 60m champion and will have her eyes firmly fixed on more precious metal at Apeldoorn 2025.
Younger sister Ditaji is also no stranger to the podium with bronze over 60m hurdles at the Istanbul 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships and silver over 100m hurdles at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
Roma 2024 pole vault gold medallist Angelica Moser, defending European indoor men’s 60m hurdles champion Jason Joseph and world indoor men’s heptathlon champion Simon Ehammer are also entered. Ehammer will contest 60m, 60m hurdles, long jump and pole vault.
KJT in action in Birmingham
Olympic heptathlon silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson is in action at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships to determine the British team. She will take part in the 60m hurdles and shot put. Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell will be looking to defend her 1500m crown and world indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery will continue her build up to Apeldoorn 2025.
Superstars and emerging stars in German championships
The German Indoor Championships in Dortmund (21-23) will feature Olympic shot put champion Yemisi Ogunleye and Olympic, world and European gold medallist Malaika Mihambo in the women’s long jump.
Mihambo will have rising prospect Mikaelle Assani, fourth in last year’s World Indoor Championships among her opposition.
Another athlete worth watching is Johanna Martin who broke the European U20 women’s 400m record on the same track last weekend (15) with 52.22. The 18 year old is a live contender for both Apeldoorn 2025 and this summer’s Tampere 2025 European Athletics U20 Championships.
In-form 400m runner Attila Molnar, winner in Lyon, Ostrava and Belgrade already this season, will step down to test his speed at 200m at the Hungarian Indoor Championships in Nyiregyhaza (22-23).
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics