Following the Zagreb City Challenge and the Ivan Ivančić Memorial—featuring the high jump and shot put competitions at the Zagreb Fountains—the main program of the 76th Boris Hanžeković Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, will take place on Friday at the Sports Park Mladost.
The competition begins at 3:00 p.m. with the hammer throw. The official opening ceremony is scheduled for 5:40 p.m., while the final event of the day, the men’s 200-meter race, starts at 7:55 p.m.
As in previous years, the entry lists are packed with Olympic, World, and European medalists. Several of them—representing a combined total of ten Olympic gold medals—appeared at Thursday’s press conference to preview the event.
Among them was Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM), one of the greatest sprinters in history and the only woman ever to win Olympic gold medals in both the 100m and 200m at two consecutive Olympic Games. She will compete in the 100 meters in Zagreb, marking her first race in Europe in three years after a lengthy battle with injuries.
“I’m happy to be back on the track. Last week at the Jamaican Championships I only ran one race because I wanted to see how my body would respond, and I got the answer I was hoping for,” said Thompson-Herah.
The meeting record in the women’s 100m has stood since 1988 at 10.92 seconds—the same as her best time of the season.
“Under normal circumstances, when I’m in good shape and the conditions are right, it would be possible to break it. But it’s difficult to predict a race. My priority is simply to stay healthy. I’m not chasing fast times—I’m looking for the right feeling. I haven’t competed properly for almost three years, so this season is about testing myself mentally and physically and preparing for next year’s World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games.”
The women’s 200m will also feature another legendary sprinter, Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), the two-time Olympic champion in the 400m and former world champion in the event. This season she has focused more on the half-lap distance. Her personal best is 21.74, while her season’s best of 22.04 matches the Boris Hanžeković Memorial record.
“It would be great to break it, but I’m not rushing things this year. I’m building my form gradually. Injuries have troubled me over the past few years, but now I’m finally healthy again. I’m trying to become competitive once more and simply enjoy the sport.”
The biggest name in the men’s 200m is undoubtedly Canada’s Andre De Grasse (CAN), the Tokyo Olympic champion in the event and winner of seven Olympic and six World
Championship medals. His personal best is 19.62, and his season’s best of 19.84 currently ranks him fifth in the world.
“This season I’m giving myself time because there’s no major championship. I’m taking it step by step. The weather should be good tomorrow, and if I execute the race well, I think the meeting record of 19.88 is within reach.”
The Boris Hanžeković Memorial 110m hurdles has always been one of the meeting’s marquee events, and this Friday will be no exception with reigning world champion Cordell Tinch of the United States on the start line.
“This is a year without pressure or stress. My priority is to have fun, race with a smile on my face, and visit beautiful places. Winning isn’t the most important thing—although it’s always the goal.”
The meeting record of 12.98 seconds, set by Mark Crear in 1999, still stands.
“Of course I’d love to run under 13 seconds and break the meeting record. But considering my goals this season, I’ll be happy if I can improve on the 13.23 I ran to win in Doha.”
Slovenian discus star Kristjan Čeh returns to the stadium where he broke the meeting record last year with an outstanding throw of 72.34 meters. He has remained in excellent form this season, surpassing the 70-meter mark at five competitions.
“Things are going really well this year. I’m consistent, finding my rhythm, and expecting even longer throws. Nowadays everyone is throwing over 70 meters, so it’s sometimes very difficult to stay ahead of the competition.”
Croatia will also be strongly represented, led by Olympic javelin champion Sara Kolak. The athlete from Ludbreg is enjoying an excellent season and recently threw 62.61 meters in Ostrava, placing her seventh on the current world rankings.
“It’s better not to expect anything and then be pleasantly surprised,” Kolak said of her ambitions for Friday.
She added:
“This season’s competitions have shown me that I’m on the right path and ready. You have to fight at every competition, give your best, and not limit yourself with expectations or target results. It’s been ten years since my first major medal—the European Championship bronze in Amsterdam—which many people forget because of my Olympic gold in Rio. A lot has happened since then. In many ways I’m the same, but I’ve also changed. I’m still here, still fighting, never giving up, and I truly love this sport.”
Marino Bloudek has made remarkable progress over the past two years. Last season he broke the Croatian 800m record that had stood for 51 years, running 1:44.01 to surpass Luciano Sušanj, and this winter he finished fifth at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń.
“My form is very good. I’m consistently competitive at gold-level meetings and have been on the podium regularly. I’m looking forward to the Boris Hanžeković Memorial, and I believe I’m capable of running under 1:44. I’d love to achieve that—it would be a historic moment for Croatian athletics and would also mean breaking the meeting record. I don’t put pressure on myself. The stronger the competition, the less nervous I am. In fact, I get more nervous watching my fiancée, Natalija Švenda, race than I do running in front of 60,000 people.”
Croatian long jump record holder Filip Pravdica is also in strong form this season, having already cleared the eight-meter mark twice.
“I’ve become consistent at those distances, but I believe I can jump even farther. Strong competition always brings out the best in me, and I’ve shown that before at the Hanžeković Memorial, where world champions have also been beaten.”
Photo: Antonio Bronić/BHM