Surprise at the indoor absolute in Ancona: the Olympic winner of the 100 meters crashed in the final
Sensational in Ancona: Marcell Jacobs was defeated by Samuele Ceccarelli in the 60m final of the Italian Indoor Championships. Ceccarelli, born in 2000, aged 23 since last January 9, was credited with beating the reigning Olympic and European champion in the 100m, World and European champion in the 60m indoor in 6″54 (personal best) , while Jacobs, who is also reigning world and European champion in this category, ran in 6’55 which is still a personal season record.
Ceccarelli third in the Italian all-time 60m ranking
On the Palaindoor straight of the capital of the Marches, the Athletics Florence Marathon sprinter improved by four cents on what he did in Berlin last February 10, but above all he finished third in the all-time Italian distance standings. Ceccarelli is behind Jacobs’ 6.41 (March 19, 2022) and Michael Tumi’s 6.51 (February 17, 2013) and ahead of Pierfrancesco Pavoni’s 6.55 (March 7, 1990).
Race report
Jacobs and Ceccarelli sprinted side by side, practically on the same line coming out of the blocks. It is in the release phase, which is when the best Jacobs usually greets his opponents, between thirty and forty meters, that the Tuscan made the difference this time. At the end of the race, the 23-year-old from Massa, wearer of the Athletica Firenze Marathon, looked incredulous but happy: he is currently the third European of the year two weeks from the Euroindoor in Istanbul.
Ceccarelli: “Winning with the Olympic champion is an emotion indescribable”
“There are no words to describe this emotion, winning the first Italian title in the final with the Olympic champion is something that cannot be told,” said Ceccarelli. “I really didn’t expect it. We knew – he explained referring to coach Marco Del Medico – that the physical condition was good, as evidenced by the races leading up to the Tricolors. But the idea of competing with and beating a champion of this caliber is like no other. A result built with patience and sacrifice, athletics gives gifts to no one.”
Jacobs: “Congratulations Ceccarelli, he drove an excellent race”
Marcell Jacobs reacted to the defeat by complimenting Ceccarelli: “He had an excellent race, he deserved it. I told him to watch Istanbul: it will be fun, with that weather it’s worth a final. Obviously it burns because it’s the first.” Italian title I lose after I don’t know how many years but I will never stop putting myself on the line”. Speaking of his race, the sprinter said that “there are still a lot of technical things to sort out, in the heat it was a total other race. I need to see the final again, but if there had been a 100m I would have stopped. I was in a fitness race that revealed a problem somewhere, I’d like to know where: it wouldn’t allow me to continue racing. We have to work. We need to look at the different parts and understand where the problem is. Now that the European Indoor Championships are in the lead, one stage ahead of the outdoor season”.
Source: TG 24 Sky