It is hard to imagine the Polish team without Justyna Święty-Ersetic, who for years was the pillar and the one who finished the performances in the Polish relay. Natalia Kaczmarek climbed to the world summit, and yet her older colleague from the national team has never been there. She was at best a star in Europe, and she showed this at the continental championships in Berlin in 2018, when she first won the gold medal individually after a great finish, and a moment later she also added it in the relay.
However, in global competitions it has always been competitors from other continents who have taken the lead.
Justyna Święty-Ersetic in the 400 meters eliminations. The Polish woman’s advancement to the semi-finals would be a sensation
In Paris, Justyna was also not supposed to start individually, she did not meet the minimum, but after relocations – she was among 47 competitors who were supposed to start today in the qualifications. For the White and Reds, this particular competition may, after the failures of the hammer throwers, be the only medal-worthy one, of course because of Natalia Kaczmarek. However, before the vice-world champion appeared at the start, in the fourth race, her older colleague from the relay ran in the second.
Three competitors from each race advanced directly to the semi-finals, the rest were waiting for the repechages on Tuesday. After the draw of the teams, it was clear that coach Aleksander Matusiński’s protégé had to prepare for this as well. The favourite was of course Jamaican Nickisha Pryce, who ran one lap in 48.57 seconds in the recent Diamond League in London, the best time this year. Even Natalia Kaczmarek, despite the Polish record, could not beat her.
And there were also: young Norwegian Henriette Jaeger and British Liavai Nielsen, both with July personal bests below 50 seconds. And that should be enough for the whole comment – the best time of a Polish woman this year is 51.46 seconds.
There was no sensation, Pryce ran “easily”, the favourites advanced in their entirety. The Polish athlete looked great for 300 metres, but she also endured the final straight. She was not far behind the best three, fourth – with the best time of the season of 50.95 s. And this is excellent information before Friday’s relay eliminations, in which, probably, in the absence of Kaczmarek, who is preparing for the individual final, she should be the leader of the team.
Pryce finished in 50.02 seconds, Nielsen in 50.36 seconds and Jaeger in 50.39 seconds.
– I knew I was prepared for the “season best”, but I was hoping for a little more. I’m very well prepared – she said in front of the Eurosport camera.
Justyna Święty-Ersetic: I haven’t said my last word this season. VIDEO/Polsat Sport/Polsat Sport
Justine Saint-Ersetic/
Justine Saint-Ersetic/
Justine Saint-Ersetic/
