Historia

National record in the women's 2000 m steeplechase, several other records highlighted the 2024 Czesław Cybulski Memorial.

Aneta Konieczek set a new Polish record by completing the 2000 m steeplechase in 6:00.81. This was one of the most valuable performances of the Czesław Cybulski Memorial. The Golęcin stadium also saw new records in the men’s 800 m run, women’s triple jump, and men’s pole vault. The record-

breaking nature of the event was further underscored by meeting records in the women’s 200 m, 400 m, and 400 m hurdles, as well as the men’s 200 m.

The men’s pole vault competition electrified the Poznań crowd. Piotr Lisek’s season-best performance (5.82 m) was not enough for the win, as Filipino vaulter Ernest J. Obiena cleared 5.87 m. Fans were thrilled by his – unfortunately unsuccessful – attempts to break his personal best (6.01 m). The third of the "six-meter club", Sondre Guttormsen, was unable to clear any height after a pole-breaking incident.

Three triple jumpers surpassed the previous Poznań stadium record. The winner, Ukraine’s Olha Korsun, jumped 14.16 m. Mohamed Ali Gouaned won the men’s 800 m in 1:44.60, beating a time set over twenty years ago by Yuriy Borzakovskiy. The fastest ever 200 m run on the Golęcin track came from the meet’s biggest star, Wayde van Niekerk, who clocked 20.23. However, this time won't count as a stadium record due to excessive wind. In an unusual twist, the new meet record holder became Diego Pettorossi, winner of an earlier 200 m heat. His time of 20.45 was recorded under legal wind conditions.

Polish favorites performed well in their events. The highly anticipated race by Natalia Kaczmarek ended with a victory for the European champion, who set a personal best and meet record of 22.70. In the hammer throw circle, Anita Włodarczyk (72.00 m) and Paweł Fajdek (78.77 m) emerged victorious, with Fajdek outthrowing Wojciech Nowicki (78.37 m) for the second time this week.

The passionate support of the fans also accompanied the para-athletics competitions. As is tradition, the Poznań event was enriched by the participation of sprinters and shot putters with disabilities. The meet also provided a chance for girls and boys born in 2011–2012 to compete, along with amateur relay teams. In two heats of the 10x400 m relay, the team "Mistrzowski Trening" recorded the best time.

Stars of the event

Wayde van Niekerk

Natalia Kaczmarek

Anita Włodarczyk

Wojciech Nowicki

Paweł Fajdek

Piotr Lisek

Ernest Obiena

Sondre Guttormsen

Justyna Święty-Ersetic

Malwina Kopron

Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz

Paweł Wojciechowski

Karol Zalewski

Anna Wielgosz

Adrianna Laskowska

Aneta Konieczek

Czesław Cybulski – legendary hammer thrower trainer

Trainer Czesław Cybulski graduated from the Secondary Sports School in Gdańsk in 1955, and then worked as a trainer and physical education teacher. Initially, he specialized in sprints, later throws became his domain. The coach was closely associated with the City of Poznań, and from 1968 with AZS Poznań. In 1978, he obtained his doctorate at the Academy of Physical Education in Poznań.

Among coach Cybulski's charges there are Olympic, world and European champions. The most recognizable of them are Anita Włodarczyk, Joanna Fiodorow, Malwina Kopron, Paweł Fajdek and Szymon Ziółkowski, the first Olympic champion in the history of Polish hammer throwing.

For his achievements, Czesław Cybulski was honored with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland in 2021. In 2013, the Poznań City Council awarded him the title of Meritorious for the City of Poznań.

Known for his love of hard work, he required such an approach from his players. He was one of the most outstanding athletics coaches in Poland and significantly contributed to the development of Polish sport. He died on August 3, 2022. Since 2023, he has been the patron of the athletics meeting in Golęcin.

Excellent results in sprints, a lot of surprises and a fight not only with rivals, but also with unpredictable weather. Poznan Athletics Grand Prix for many athletes was an important opening of the season.

The first part of the meeting in favorable, although windy, weather was filled with sprint and hurdle races. In particular, the most valuable results of the meeting were achieved by Emile Erasmus from South Africa, who equaled Kim Collins' stadium record in the 100m (10.14), Pia Skrzyszowska with the fifth historic time among Polish women in the 100m hurdles (12.68), Imani Lansiquot with the women's 100m record (11.15), and Anna Kielbasinska with the stadium record and an even life in the 300m (36.34). A surprise came from Brendan Rodney of Canada ahead of Yohan Blake in the 200m run with a time of 20.55.

The weather was less kind to middle-distance runners, female athletes competing in the 2000m run with obstacles, and athletes in technical competitions. Piotr Lisek only needed a height of 5.41 to win, while Toni Keranen won the javelin throw with a distance of 79.37. The Polish favorite to win this competition, Marcin Krukowski withdrew after the second round.

The Poznan audience could also applaud the performances of the para-athletes. They competed for the second time at Golęcin in the shot put and 100m run. The meeting ended with the struggles of amateurs. Members of Poznań running teams competed in the 10 x 400 meter relay race. The race has already become a tradition of the Poznan event, and the laurel of the winners went this time to the Maratonczyk Poznan group.

We encourage you to read the full results (PDF) of the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix 2022 and watch the coverage of the event.

Stars of the Poznań Athletics Grand Prix 2022

Yohan Blake

200 m run

Dariusz Kowaluk

300 m run

Michał Rozmys

1000 m run

Piotr Lisek

pole vault

Tymoteusz Zimny

300 m run

Karol Zalewski

300 m run

Marcin Krukowski

javelin throw

Iga Baumgart-Witan

300 m run

Pia Skrzyszowska

100 m hurdles run

Angelika Sarna

800 m run

Ajla Del Ponte

100 m run

Anna Kiełbasińska

100 m run, 300 m run

Paweł Wojciechowski

pole vault

Adrianna Szóstak

triple jump

The Golecin stadium favored the athletes that day. As many as nine competitions set a record for the meeting, the stadium record was achieved three times, and the result of the 2000 m steeple run is the best result at this distance in the current season.

The stars of the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial did not disappoint, although excellent results were achieved not only in competitions staffed by the world's most titled athletes. Polish fans should be especially pleased with the performance of Martyna Galant, who, after a fantastic finish in the 1500m, came close to her personal best (4:05.48) and set a competition record. Piotr Lisek (5.80) jumped only 2 cm lower than his best result this year, equaling his record at the Poznań stadium. The best throw in the season was made by Anita Włodarczyk (71.73). Extraordinary emotions accompanied the 2000 m steeplechase run, in which Tatiane Raquel Da Silva triumphed in 6:01.47 (the first result of this year's world lists). In this competition, although at the finish line outside the first three, Aneta Konieczek ran her personal best (6:06.85). An even performance can be enjoyed by Pia Skrzyszowska (12.87), who is just returning to fast running.

The other competitions in which records were set at the meeting event were the women's and men's 400m hurdles, women's long jump, women's and men's 800m, and men's 1500m.

As every year, a great sports spectacle was provided by para-athletes, who competed in the 100m run and shot put. Amateur runners warmed up the Golęcin track during the 10x400m relay race. The winning team of Champions Training led almost for most of the race. On the penultimate shift she lost the lead, which she regained on the last lap.

Stars of the Poznań Athletics Grand Prix 2023

Paweł Fajdek

Anita Włodarczyk

Pia Skrzyszowska

Wojciech Nowicki

Malwina Kopron

Piotr Lisek

Patryk Wykrota

Anna Wielgosz

Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz-Zawadzka

Raphael Holzdeppe

Martyna Galant

Marcin Wrotyński

The excitement of the fans returned to the POSiR Golęcin stadium. In front of an audience that was 25 percent full, the athletes who had already secured the Olympic minimums and those who were yet to fight for them took off. The biggest surprise was Ethan Cormon of France beating Renaud Lavillenie, Piotr Lisek and Harry Coppel of Great Britain in the pole vault.

The other surprise was the victory of the excellent junior Kornelia Lesiewicz in the heavily contested women's 400m run.

The hammer throw competition in the men's category was won by Wojciech Nowicki, and in the women's category, leading in this year's European lists - Malwina Kopron.

Good results fell in the ladies' triple jump and high jump competitions. In the former, only five centimeters were missing to improve the stadium record. The result of the winner Ottavia Cestonaro was this year's best result of this athlete. In the high jump the victory belonged to Kamila Lycinko, who in her first attempt overcame the bar suspended at a height of 1.90.

Relay races of amateur running teams are becoming a tradition of the Poznań meetings. Runners competing in half-marathons and marathons had a chance to test themselves in the stadium for the second time. A novelty, however, was the participation of para-athletes in the 100m run and the shot put competition.

We encourage you to read the full results (PDF) of the Poznań Athletics Grand Prix 2021 and watch the coverage of the event.