Finland’s Saga Vanninen, world indoor silver medallist last year, leads the pentathlon after three events after a sensational opening to the competition on Sunday (9) at the Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
A fascinating contest exploded into life in the women’s 60m hurdles with world indoor bronze medallist and home hope Sofie Dokter winning heat one in a personal best 8.26. Then in heat two, Vanninen placed second in 8.19, also a lifetime best.
Next up as was the high jump and Vanninen added another personal best, clearing 1.81m at the second attempt. Dokter made a first time clearance at 1.84m before the bar went to 1.87m with the Dutch athlete, Britain’s Jade O'Dowda and Ireland’s Kate O’Connor the only athletes left.
O’Dowda was the only one to prevail, creeping over at the third attempt, adding one centimetre to her personal best. Aligned with a monster personal best in the 60m hurdles of 8.30, slashing 0.15 off her lifetime best, it represented a superb start for the British athlete.
O’Connor too was producing the form of her life, her 60m hurdles time of 8.31 and 1.84m also being personal bests. In the final event of the morning, Vanninen made her strength count in the shot put with a third round 15.56m, over a metre clear of her main rival.
O’Connor landed at 14.32m, Dokter at 13.86m and O’Dowda at 13.46m, the latter producing her best ever throw indoors. It left Vanninen at the head of the pack with 2975, with O’Connor in silver medal position on 2903. O’Dowda is third with 2886 with Dokter a mere two points back in fourth.
Tearful exit for Fabbri
There was a major shock in the men’s shot put qualifying round where world leader and European outdoors champion Leonardo Fabbri failed to progress. The best he could muster was a second round 19.72m sandwiched by two fouls to leave him languishing in 11th place and a tearful exit for the Italian.
The qualifiers were led by Czechia’s Tomas Stanek - a medallist at these championships on four including gold in Torun 2021. With a second round season’s best of 21.26m, he was the only athlete to better the automatic qualification standard of 21.00m in booking his place in Sunday evening’s final.
Defending champion Zane Weir ensured Italy will still have some say in the final outcome, qualifying in second place with 20.91m.
Kambundji on track for Swiss family double
In the women’s 60m heats, the main protagonists all progressed. Defending champion Mujinga Kambundji won heat two in a relaxed 7.19. The Swiss athlete will eyeing a family double, following her younger sister Ditaji’s record breaking success in the 60m hurdles on Friday.
Istanbul 2023 silver medallist Ewa Swoboda of Poland won heat five in 7.14, Luxembourg’s Patrizia van der Weken won heat one in 7.11 and – fastest of all – Italy’s Zaynab Dosso won heat four in 7.06, the fastest ever heat time in European indoor history.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics