European stars set to shine in Serbia

Spanovic tries to repeat as long jump champion in home country, with Beitia and Stefanidi looking to add indoor titles to Olympic gold medals

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Thirteen defending champions, in addition to reigning Olympic women’s pole vault gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi of Greece and women’s high jump gold medalist Ruth Beitia of Spain, are scheduled to compete Friday-Sunday at the European Indoor Championships at Kombank Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.

Russian athletes, who combined to win six gold medals and captured eight medals overall at the 2015 European Indoor Championships in the Czech Republic, will not be allowed to compete while still serving a World Anti-Doping Agency suspension for widespread doping violations that could extend to the IAAF World Championships in August in London.

Yelena Korobkina, who won the women’s 3,000 for Russia two years ago in Prague, has turned down the opportunity to compete as a neutral athlete and will also sit out of the World Championships unless her country is reinstated by the IAAF.

Stefanidi secured a silver medal in 2015, with Beitia – who has captured five European indoor medals, including gold in 2013 – placing fifth in Prague.

Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic, the defending long jump champion and current world indoor leader, will look to repeat in her home country. She leads five reigning women’s champions into competition, along with Belarus’ Alina Talay in the 60-meter hurdles, Switzerland’s Selina Buchel in the 800, Hungary’s Anita Marton in the shot put and France’s 4x400 relay.

Although France’s Renaud Lavillenie won’t be pursuing a fifth consecutive men’s pole vault gold medal after shutting down his indoor season to allow a hamstring injury to heal, Czech sprinter Pavel Maslak is trying to win a third consecutive 400 title.

Turkey’s Ali Kaya looks to repeat in the 3,000, along with Great Britain’s Richard Kilty in the 60-meter dash, France’s Pascal Martinot-Lagarde in the 60 hurdles and Belgium – featuring Borlee brothers Dylan, Jonathan and Kevin – in the 4x400 relay.

Sweden’s Michel Torneus seeks his third straight medal in the long jump, including back-to-back golds, with Germany’s David Storl trying to repeat in the shot put and Portugal’s Nelson Evora returning as the reigning triple jump champion.