Sports News

In this edition of Sports News: Czech success at the Indoor World Championships in Hungary, including Roman Sebrle's record-setting win in the heptathlon; more woe for football's slumping Sparta Prague in the Czech premier division; and, the latest results in the first round of the hockey play-offs including big wins by Pilsen and Vitkovice.

Sports News

Sebrle takes heptathlon title - sets European record - at indoor world championships

Roman Sebrle, photo: CTK

The indoor athletics world championships took place in Budapest, Hungary over the weekend and it was a nail-biting finish for the Czech athlete Roman Sebrle, who took the gold in the two-day heptathlon and set a new European record of 6, 438 points. But, had it not been for a poor performance in the pole vault on the final day of competition, where Sebrle placed 20 centimetres lower than expected, he might have challenged the indoor world record set by Dan O'Brien way back in 1993. After that opportunity slipped from Sebrle's grasp his first comments after his win were still tinged with a measure of regret:

"Yeah, I'm pretty sorry about the world record - it was within my sights after the first day. I haven't had it within my sights like that before and who knows if I'll ever get such an opportunity again. I wanted to run the fastest and jump the highest in the pole vault, so yeah, I was sorry it didn't work out. On the other hand, my overall feeling now is one of happiness for the win. I proved that when I'm healthy I am still capable of pulling it off."

Jaroslav Baba, photo: CTK

Well, perhaps Roman Sebrle will get another shot at that world record, who knows - he is certainly the man to beat at the moment, though his closest rival in the heptathlon Bryan Clay gave him a run for his money. Prior to the heptathlon's final event, the 1,000 metres, Clay led Sebrle by 32 points. The Czech had to pull out all the stops in the final run, to crush his rival's lead.

Finally, Sebrle's was not the only Czech success over the weekend: in individual events Czech athlete Adam Ptacek pulled off a stunning finish in the pole vault to grab silver, while Jaroslav Baba secured bronze in the high jump. So, much reason for Czech athletics fans to celebrate there.

Sparta down and - supposedly - out

Meanwhile, the news was less cheerful over the weekend for Sparta Prague football fans: last year's defending champions appear to have lost any chance of repeating 2003's success after slumping against Olomouc in another goalless lacklustre draw. The sports headlines this day scream "Sparta hits bottom". Angry fans whistled their displeasure as Sparta players left the field, and the team's trainer Jiri Kotrba has admitted his job could now be on the line. So far in the spring half Sparta have only beaten Opava and are now third behind Slavia Prague. If league leaders Banik Ostrava can shoot down Zizkov on Monday they will secure a hefty ten-point lead over Sparta, further pressing the question "Can the former champions rebound?".

Hockey play-offs: drama of the first order

In the first round of the Extraliga ice hockey playoffs, which began last week, rivalries are heating up and already it is clear no team is going to have it easy making it through their respective series. Over the weekend Pilsen erased a two-game lead by last year's runner-ups Pardubice in an amazing 6-3 turnaround. Pilsen had been trailing 3-1 halfway through the game, when, to borrow George W Bush's words, Pilsen "brought it on". In the space of a single minute goals from Saffer and Matejovsky stunned Pardubice, making it even and paving the way for Pilsen's victory. Spanhel scored the game-winning goal. Overall Pilsen was the hungrier, more hard-working team, backed-up by a solid Roman Malek, who faced thirty shots.

Meanwhile, in other play-off games Trinec fell to HC Hame 3-2 - that series is now tied at 2, while Slavia succumbed to Znojmo 3-2 - Znojmo leads the series 2-1. And what about the series between Sparta Prague and Vitkovice? Vitkovice closed Sparta's series lead to 2-1 in a lop-sided match that saw Vitkovice chase veteran goalie Petr Briza from Sparta's net. Over three periods Briza allowed five goals and Sparta never replied except for a few dust-ups and their share of hard hits. But, they'll need more than that if they hope to make it to the next round.