Russia’s Muratov breaks 400m world record at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Indoor Athletics Championships

Russia’s Artem Muratov headlined a great day for Russia at the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Indoor Athletics Championships on Friday (2 March), breaking the men’s 400m II1 world record in Val-de-Reuil, France.

Muratov took an early lead at the Jesse Owens Stadium in Normandy, striding across the line for gold in 48.97. His time lowers the previous record of Cape Verde’s Gracelino Barbosa.

France’s Charles-Antoine Kouakou (51.42) tried to stick with Muratov but in the end settled for silver. Hong Kong’s Kung Yeung Chong (53.64) was third.

Russia claimed another gold courtesy of Aleksandra Ruchkina in the women’s triple jump II1. Hop, skipping and jumping her way to best of 11.50, Ruchkina beat Portugal’s long jump world champion Ana Filipe (10.93) into second.

Pavel Sarkeev eased to victory in the men’s 1,500m II1 in a time of 4:05.02 to round-off a trio of golds for Russia on the opening day. Ndiaga Dieng (4:10.42) of Italy was second and France’s Rashid Boutasghount (4:14.02) third.

In the women’s 1,500m II1 Turkey’s Muhsine Geyser (5:21.23) powered her way to first place with a sprint finish. The Czech Republic’s Katarina Husakova (5:30.83) was left in Geyser’s wake to secure silver. France’s Marion Candelier, the silver medallist from 2016, was third in 5:34.35.

There was a second gold for Turkey in the women’s 400m II1 after the disqualification of Russia’s Anastasiia Glushkova. Sevim Demircan (64.59) just dipped onto the line for the win ahead of France’s Laurie Brandel (64.90) with silver. Demircan’s teammate Yasemin Keskinsoy (68.27) was promoted to bronze.

Drama in the pentathlon

A dramatic women’s pentathlon II1 saw the top three swapping places throughout the day.

Poland’s Karolina Kucharczyk got her campaign off to a great start in the 60m hurdles. The individual world champion won her race in 9.22 seconds to take an early lead.

Portugal’s Claudia Santos (11.60) and France’s Virginie Dreux (11.96) were second and third respectively.

Santos pulled back some points on Kucharczyk in the high jump, with both women clearing 1.41m. The Portuguese athlete went on to win the shot put with a 8.40m throw.

However Kucharczyk made a comeback in the long jump, leaping to a 5.48m to lead the field once again. Santos was second with 4.44m and Dreux (4.04m) in third.

With a third place finish in the 800m, Kucharczyk secured the gold with 2,831 points. Santos (2,262) was second, followed onto the podium by Dreux (1,707).

In the opening men’s pentathlon II1 event Spain’s Franci Perez Carrera (9.05) led France’s Daniel Royer (9.34) in the 60m hurdles.

Royer made a comeback in the high jump, leaping 1.58m on his last attempt at the height. Carerra could only manage 1.55m. The Frenchman also claimed top points in the shot put with a 10.84m throw over Carrera’s 7.88m.

But Carrera made his intentions clear in the long jump, topping the table with 5.66m to Royer’s 5.42m. The Spaniard then went on take the tape in the 1,000m in 3:06.08 to finish on a winning score of 2,640. Royer (3:16.24) claimed silver just a few points behind with 2,637.

Argentina’s Alain Villamarin (12.47) was the victor in the men’s triple jump II1. Carlos Lima (12.45) took silver ahead of Turkey’s Onur Kopuzlu (12.15). With his bronze, Kopuzlu equalled his performance from the last edition in Ancona, Italy, in 2016.

France’s Nicolas Virapin took on the shot put, long jump and 60m in the men’s triathlon II2. He claimed gold with 2,802 points.

Full results are available throughout the competition. 

Live results, updates and pictures will be available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.