The Men’s Triple Jump Could Deliver Surprises at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22
Belgrade, Serbia
The men’s triple jump event at the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade is shaping up to be one of the most wide-open and exciting disciplines on the schedule. With a host of talented jumpers set to compete, the title is truly up for grabs.
On paper, the field is loaded with quality. Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo of Portugal will take on defending world indoor titleholder Will Claye of the United States. However, the event has yet to truly ignite in 2022, as only two of the Belgrade-bound competitors have surpassed the 17-meter mark this year.
That said, the stage could be set for a breakout performance in Serbia. Pichardo’s lone outing this season came in a low-key meet in Pombal, Portugal, where he reached 16.57m – a result that shouldn’t be overanalyzed, as many athletes often compete with a shortened approach early in the year. The Portuguese star, however, is a proven championship performer, having reached the podium at nearly every major event over the past decade, save for the 2019 World Championships.
Claye, the 2018 and 2012 world indoor champion, has jumped 16.63m this season, but like Pichardo, is not to be underestimated when the pressure is on. If either veteran falters, the door could open for Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez to seize the opportunity.
Making his indoor debut earlier this year, the 24-year-old Martinez has been the revelation of the season so far. In his first-ever indoor competition, he soared to a world-leading 16.97m in Lievin, France, followed by an impressive 17.21m jump – the first 17-meter effort indoors in 2022. He then won again in Madrid, cementing his status as the man to beat in Belgrade.
With world U18 gold (2013) and a pair of world U20 titles (2014, 2016) already on his resume, Martinez now has a chance to complete a full set of global age-group championships if he can secure his first senior world title.
Others to watch include Algeria’s Yasser Triki, who has jumped 16.95m this year but boasts a 17.43m personal best outdoors, as well as France’s Jean-Marc Pontvianne, the Madrid bronze medalist who recently set a season’s best of 17.08m.
Ultimately, the men’s triple jump in Belgrade promises to be a captivating contest, with a mix of established stars and rising talents vying for the coveted world indoor crown.
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