Athletics World Championships. Swoboda, Skrzyszowska and Szymański in the line-up for Glasgow

Ewa Swoboda
Ewa Swoboda Photo: Arkadiusz Gola
Ewa Swoboda, Pia Skrzyszowska and Jakub Szymański were included in the 23-person Polish national team for the World Indoor Athletics Championships. Also flying to Glasgow (March 1-3) are, among others: experienced 400 m specialists Marika Popowicz-Drapała and Justyna Święta-Ersetic and pole vaulter Piotr Lisek.

“It’s exciting to return to the place where I won the gold medal in the European Indoor Championships,” said Swoboda before the start in Glasgow, quoted in the release of the Polish Athletics Association.

The 26-year-old sprinter has probably the best chance of winning a medal among the Polish representatives who will fly to Glasgow. Her season record of 7.01 is second in the world. After another triumph in the national indoor championships, she indicated that she couldn’t wait to start in the World Championships.

“Everything is calm. In such competitions, what counts is the daily disposition. However, it is encouraging that in every start this year I broke the mark of 7.10. A year ago I could have dreamed about it,” said the athlete trained by Iwona Krupa.

Polish favorites in the 60 m hurdles – Pia Skrzyszowska and Jakub Szymański – will also fly to Scotland. They are both in great shape and world leaders.

This year, Skrzyszowska achieved 7.81 and was once again close to breaking the Polish record, held since 1980 by Zofia Bielczyk (7.77). 21-year-old Szymański improved the national record with a result of 7.47, but he believes that with a flawless run he will be able to further increase this result.

“I am not afraid of competing with the world record holder Grant Holloway, although in the hall he is a +monster+, a phenomenon, but also a very nice person,” Szymański said after winning the national championship.

Pole vaulter Lisek also has a chance for a high place, as he is getting back into better shape. This season he jumped 5.82. Much depends on who in this competition ultimately decides to take part in the HM World Championships.

“The level of my specialty is high this season. There are a few of us jumping above 5.80, but each competition is a new story. I hope that in Glasgow I will be effective and will jump really high. I am in good shape, I just need to do my job” – said Lisek .

Both Polish 4×400 m relay teams will also take part in the HM World Championships. The women’s team includes the national indoor champion and vice-champion, the experienced Popowicz-Drapała and Święta-Ersetic.

“After consultations with the coaches, we decided to send both relay teams to Glasgow. Their teams are a mixture of experience and youth. However, let us remember that it is an Olympic year and for the relay teams, the most important start in this part of the season will be the qualifications for the Olympics. They will take place in two months Bahamas,” recalled PZLA sports director Krzysztof Kęcki.

Two years ago, the Polish team at the HM World Championships in Belgrade consisted of 24 people. The Polish national team won two medals there – the silver was won by pentathlete Adrianna Sułek, and the bronze by the women’s 4×400 m relay team.

The composition of the Polish national team for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow

– women

60 m
Magdalena Stefanowicz (AZS AWF Katowice)
Ewa Swoboda (AZS AWF Katowice)

800 m
Angelika Sarna (AZS AWF Warszawa)
Anna Wielgosz (CWKS Resovia Rzeszów)

1500 m
Martyna Galant (OŚ AZS Poznań)
Weronika Lizakowska (KUKS Remus Kościerzyna)

60 m junior
Pia Skrzyszowska (KS AZS AWF Warszawa)
Weronika Naginać (AZS AWF Kraków)

4×400 m
Kinga Gacka (BKS Bydgoszcz)
Anna Maria Gryc (AZS AWF Warszawa)
Marika Popowicz-Drapała (CWZS Zawisza Bydgoszcz SL)
Justyna Święta-Ersetic (AZS AWF Katowice)
Alica Wrona-Kutrzepa (BKS Bydgoszcz)

– men

800 m
Mateusz Borkowski (AZS AWF Warszawa)

60 m junior
Krzysztof Kiljan (AZS AWF Warszawa)
Jakub Szymański (SKLA Sopot)

high school
Norbert Kobielski (MKS Inowrocław)

pole vaulter
Piotr Lisek (OSOT Szczecin)

4×400 m
Patryk Grzegorzewicz (AZS UMCS Lublin)
Mateusz Rzeźniczak (MKS Aleksandrów Łódzki)
Daniel Sołtysiak (OŚ AZS Poznań)
Maksymilian Szwed (AZS Łódź)
Jan Wawrzkowicz (OŚ AZS Poznań)

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