On Saturday, the Sports park Mladost will host the 75th Boris Hanžeković Memorial. The program kicks-off with the hammer throw at 2:30 PM, while the final event is scheduled for 7:55 PM. On Friday, the biggest stars of this year’s competition were presented at the National and University Library in Zagreb, led by Croatian Sandra Elkasević.
Natko Bošnjak, the Meeting director, expressed the gratitude after the Ivan Ivančić Memorial: “We’re happy with the Ivan Ivančić Memorial. Unfortunately, due to the weather, the women’s high jump had to be moved indoors. I wish everyone better weather on Saturday for the main part of the Meeting and have no doubt it will be a great one.”
Gudaf Tsegay, world indoor 1500m champion and world record holder, believes she can run fast in Zagreb: “I had some minor issues after Nanjing, but every season has its ups and downs. It’s hard to say which event I love the most, but let’s say the 1500m is my favourite. We’ll have a fast pace maker, so we’ll see what happens. I’ll do my best. My 3:53 from Poland is the season’s best, and 3:58 is the meeting record. I’d like to run a better time. My main goal this season is the 10,000m at the World Championships.”
Omar McLeod, 2016 Olympic and world c110m hurdles champion is excited to be competing in Zagreb:
“After a string of issues in recent years, my season is going very well. I’ve just started training outdoors. I’m aiming for my best season to be ready for the Jamaican Trials – they’re very tough. I’d prefer warm weather in Zagreb, for sure. I live in Padua now, and the conditions are similar and great for training. At 31, I want to run faster than 13 seconds again. I was young when I won Olympic gold, but now I’ve developed physically and I feel stronger. I’m patient, hardworking, and want to uphold the great tradition of this meeting in our discipline. I think it’ll be exciting.”
Julien Alfred, the 2024 Olympic 100m champion stated: “The weather isn’t ideal, but I’ll go out there and do my best. I train in different conditions in Austin, Texas. The goal is always to match or beat the 21.89 I ran this season – we’ll see. After my Olympic gold, I’m more recognized, my country uses my name and image, and now the whole world knows about Saint Lucia. I even got a Millennium Highway named after me.”
Sara Kolak, 2016 Olympic javelin champion: “The competition in Cyprus was a kind of warm-up for the Boris Hanžeković Memorial. I couldn’t wait for the season to start. I’m hoping for a good season, I’m enjoying myself. I can’t see the future or where the javelin will land on Saturday, but I believe in a strong performance. My best Boris Hanžeković Memorial memory is from 2019, when I set the meeting record.“
Marino Bloudek, Croatia’s top 800m runner and indoor record holder is positive to run fast on Saturday:
“I didn’t expect the national indoor record since I’m not really an indoor runner, but the result from Ostrava was excellent. I believed I could do it. My 1:46.15 indoors is equivalent to about 1:44.20 outdoors, but I believe I’m capable of running even faster. The 1:44.08 is the meeting record. The World Championships standard is 1:44.50 – I’m aiming for that. Whatever the weather, I am ready. Let’s say 20°C, no rain or humidity would be ideal.”
And saving the best for last, Sandra Elkasević, two-time Olympic discus champion is
“The Diamond League was okay – I was 4th and 6th, which is good for me, even if surprising to some. This season is more relaxed. The main goal is the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. This is my 17th appearance at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial. I remember the first one clearly – it was my dream to compete at this Meeting because the energy is always special. My season’s best is 63.55m and I want to throw further than that on Saturday. Honestly, I expected more after the first competition of the season, but some health issues held me back. Now it’s time to throw further.”