IAAF World Championship (Indoor)

[Antaeus7]

Emmanouilidou and Tsoukala starts off tomorrow morning (tonight local time in the U.S.) in the women's 60 meters. Emmanoulidiou is in Heat 1 while Tsoukala is in Heat 5. First three goes to the semifinals automatically with the fastest 6 times (non-automatics). The ideal time to go to the semifinals is 7.24 or under. Karalis is going 7th in the order in the men's pole vault, I do expect him to skip the early heights and go straight to 5.60 or 5.70, hoping he won't have to do many jumps early on. 

[Antaeus7]

For the first time, Emmanouilidou qualified for the semifinals at the World Indoor Championship. Her time was 7.26 (20th place overall), one of the six fastest time for non-automatic qualifiers. Tsoukala was not so lucky, finished at 7.46 (36th place overall)

Edited March 22, 2025 by Antaeus7

[Antaeus7]

Karalis with another new NR at 6.05 and remains perfect with Duplantis! What a battle! 

[Antaeus7]

Emmanouilidou did not qualify for the finals, finished at 7.33. A personal best would have gotten the job done. Last person to get in was 7.17 from a Chinese sprinter. 

[Antaeus7]

Despite a great performance from Karalis, he settles for silver. Duplantis is so difficult to beat him. He proves why he is the GOAT. 

[Blackhawk]

Great performance by Manolo breaking the national record again with 6.05. Too bad he has Duplantis to compete against. I expect him to jump 6.10 during the outdoor season.

[Antaeus7]

For the first time at the World Indoor Championship since 2018, Tentoglou will walk away without a medal, finished 5th place with a season's best at 8.14. He looks off after he recovered from the flu. This better not be a sign of bad things to come. 

Iosifidou finished 34th place overall at 8.28, funny thing is all 6 of the hurdlers in her heat all qualified for the semifinals. 

Edited March 23, 2025 by Antaeus7

[Antaeus7]

The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championship will take place in Torun, Poland.
The Polish city did host the European Athletics Indoor back in March 2021 during the pandemic. 

So far, 5 Greek athletes are in the qualifying spots to take part in this event.
Rafalia Spanoudaki is the only Greek woman to take part while Emmanouil Karalis and Miltos Tentoglou have locked up there spots via entry standard. The other two are barely in the top 16 in their respective spots for the men's high jump and triple jump. They are Antonios Merlos and Andreas Pantazis. George John Franks is just sitting outside the top 30 for the men's 400 meters at 31st place. He may likely get an invite to go. 

Edited March 2 by Antaeus7

[Antaeus7]

Anastasia Dragomirova is going to Torun, Poland as a designated athlete (14th place) at the women's pentathlon. She is the first Greek athlete to confirm. This will be her first ever indoor track and field event at the senior level. 

Edited Tuesday at 08:08 PM by Antaeus7

[Antaeus7]

As it stands after qualification period is over, Emmanouil Karalis and Miltiadis Tentoglou are in via entry standard, while Rafaela Spanoudaki and Antonios Merlos are in via top list. Andreas Pantazis sitting out the top 16 at 18 despite having the same mark with the Cuban and the Zimbabwean athlete at 16.71m. I believe he will likely get the wild card. George John Franks I believe will skip the event due to his collegiate athletics commitments. Unless he changes his mind. 

Edited Tuesday at 08:03 PM by Antaeus7

[Blackhawk]

Either way Franks did not qualify. Thirty spots were available. The qualifying standard was 45.80, but 34 athletes ran under 45.80. Franks had a best mark of 45.83.

As of today our team for Toroun is:

HIGH JUMP:  Antonis MERLOS - PAOK Thessaloniki - 2.27 metrers
POLE VAULT:  Emanouil KARALIS - Olympiakos Piraues - 6.17 meters 
LONG JUMP:  Miltos TENTOGLOU - GS Kifisia - 8.25 meters
60 METERS:  Rafaela SPANOUDAKI - GS Ilioupolis - 7.25 seconds
HEPTATHLON:  Anastasia DRAGOMIROVA - AS Kentavros Halkidiki - 4,176 points

As you pointed out Antaeus7, Pantazis might get a wild card. We will find out tomorrow.

It's safe to predict that we will get 2 medals, but I am afraid  none will be gold. Hope I am proven wrong.

[Antaeus7]

Andreas Pantazis gets the wild card and so did two others 

Dimitria Tsoukala (Women's 60 Meters)
Christos Panagiotis-Roumitsos (Men's 60 Meter Hurdles)

[Blackhawk]

This makes it 8 Greek athletes will be taking part:

60 METERS HURDLES:  Christos-Panagiotis ROUMTSIOS - OFKA Serres - 7.81 seconds  (42/62)
HIGH JUMP:  Antonis MERLOS - PAOK Thessaloniki - 2.27 metrers  (12/12)
POLE VAULT:  Emanouil KARALIS - Olympiakos Piraues - 6.17 meters   (1/12)
LONG JUMP:  Miltos TENTOGLOU - GS Kifisia - 8.25 meters  (6/16)
TRIPLE JUMP:  Andreas PANTAZIS - AO Megara - 16.75 meters  (15/16)
60 METERS:  Rafaela SPANOUDAKI - GS Ilioupolis - 7.25 seconds  (34/56)
60 METERS:  Dimitra TSOUKALA - PAS Protathliton Komotini - 7.29 seconds  (36/56)
HEPTATHLON:  Anastasia DRAGOMIROVA - AS Kentavros Halkidiki - 4,176 points  (13/14)

Looks like a lot of athletes are skipping the championships, which gives some of our athletes the chance to take part. For example Roumtsios was ranked 62nd before yesterday, but after cancellations he jumped to 42nd and ended up with a ticket to the world championship. Same situation in the 400 meters. Franks ended up in a qualifying spot too, but he committed to run the relay for Miami in the NCAA finals this weekend and informed SEGAS that he will not be available.

[Antaeus7]

The schedule for our Greek team in Torun, Poland (Local Time) 
Friday, March 20
19:35 Andreas Pantazis - Men's Triple Jump 
Saturday, March 21
10:20 Christos Panagiotis-Roumitsos - Men's 60 Meters Hurdles
11:05 Rafaela Spanoudaki, Dimtra Tsoukala - Women's 60 Meters
12:15 Antonios Merlos - Men's High Jump
18:25 Emmanouil Karalis - Men's Pole Vault
Sunday, March 22 
10:05 Anastasia Dragomirova - Women's Pentathlon
19:12 Miltiadis Tentoglou - Men's Long Jump