Orlen Cup 2025 full of records is over
Jakub Szymański in impressive style won the 60 meters hurdle race during the Orlen Cup meeting, which took place at Atlas Arena on the 8th of February 2025. He improved his own Polish indoor record with a time of 7.39!
The packed arena in Łódź was on Saturday evening witnessing the fastest run in the history of Polish athletics. Jakub Szymański, presenting his excellent form this season, tried to achieve a fantastic result. Already in the qualifiers, he scored a great 7.43. In the final, he ran even faster and won with a score of 7.39! Thus, he beat his own Polish record and strengthened his lead in the world tables.
- I do what I love and it drives me. Thanks to this I achieve such results. I do not know my limit. I aim for the time of 7.35 and I would like to be the first to win against the undefeated American Holloway in this distance of 60 meters - announced Szymański.
The Polish hurdler has also been the vice-leader of European historical tables in the 60-meter hurdle race since Saturday evening. Only the legendary Brit Collin Jackson ran faster than him on this distance.
- I am a strongman of this distance. I am fulfilling my dreams and overcoming the mental barrier. Now it's time for him to be a baddie also in the summer, at 110 meters hurdle race - said Szymański.
The second at the finish line was Damian Czykier with a score of 7.50 - he filled the minimum for the March World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. The third at the finish, Krzysztof Kiljan achieved an excellent 7.57 and secured a pass to compete in the European Championships in Apeldoorn and the global championship in China.
Fans also followed the 60-meter final race with Ewa Swoboda with tension. The Polish speed runner fought at the Atlas Arena's track an exciting duel with the Italian Dosso. At the finish line, she minimally defeated her rival from the Apennine Peninsula and won with a time of 7.13.
- I am averagely satisfied with this start because after 7.13 there is nothing to be happy about. However, the crowds of fans in the stands are thrilled - said Swoboda.
In the women's 60-meter hurdle race, Polish fans waited for the performance of Pia Skrzyszowska. In the end, our best hurdler was the third with a time of 8.02. In Łódź, the excellent Swiss athlete Ditaji Kambundji triumphed.
- I did not feel the best today, hence the result. I also have to work a little on certain elements. I know what is my disposition, and what training I had. I am waiting for a better start - said Skrzyszowska.
A valuable victory was won in Łódź by Konrad Bukowiecki. The Polish shot putter, as he announced in the talks before the start of the ORLEN Cup meeting, tried to achieve a result of definitely over 20 meters. In the best attempt, he sent a ball at a distance of 20.95. Thus, he secured a win and valuable ranking points, helping in the fight for qualification for championship competitions.
In the pole vault, the Greek Emmanouil Karalis, an Olympic medallist from Paris, presented himself brilliantly in Łódź. He trained every day with the Polish ace Piotr Lisek, jumping in the Atlas Arena to the sounds of Zorba, made the fans very happy. He scored 5.92 and beat the record of Greece, and then attacked the bar suspended on 6.02.
- After the Olympic Games, I am more recognizable in the country, but I also did not become a big star. Today I again beat the record of Greece, but there remains a certain insufficiency because I was very much hoping for a successful jump of 6 meters - said Karalis.
Piotr Lisek took third place by jumping 5.52.
World leader in the high jump Maria Żodzik won the competition in the Atlas Arena, overcoming the bar at the height of 1.90. The second of the Polish women Paulina Borys also did well, who will leave Łódź with a personal best of 1.90.
In youth runs for 60 meters for the Cup of the Marshal of the Lodz Voivodeship, Barbara Krawiec from Skierniewice and Aleksander Frydrysiak from Łódź were the ones who took trophies home.
Full results: Łódź
Orlen Cup is included in the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver series. As in previous editions, our company provided equipment to conduct all competitions.
More information https://orlencup.pl/
