Today we continue our series on the European Athletics Indor Championships in Gothenburg. The Day Two focus is on Abeba Aregawi and the 60m final.
The need for speed was the essence of the second day at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Göteborg.
But for those packed into the Scandinavium Arena, there was probably only one name on their lips when they headed home after a sensational Saturday of action - the name of Abeba Aregawi.
Two weeks earlier at the XL Galan in Stockholm, Aregawi showed every bit of her ability as she missed out on the 1500m indoor world record by just 0.12 with a superb 3:58.40.
The standard for Göteborg had been set and the anticipation was high as the clock ticked towards 6:05 pm and the nine women took to the start line.
When Aregawi’s name was called out, cheers boomed around the arena and the noise level did not stop for the seven-and-a-half laps of the race.
Those wondering had to wait not much more than 200m before the Swede turned the final into a procession.
She had taken the lead by that stage and then gradually just broke further away, a remarkable performance where she was never threatened.
In the history of the European Athletics Indoor Championships, few finals could have been won with such ease and such dominance.
Aregawi did not trouble the history books this time, taking gold in 4:04.47 but she won by almost 10 seconds as Spain’s Isabel Macias was second in 4:14.19 with Katarzyna Broniatowska, of Poland, third in 4:14.30.
The arena was rocking as the decibel levels reached crescendo and Aregawi soared around that final lap to triumph, with Sweden’s first and only gold medal of the Championships setting the tone for the rest of the year.
During the summer, Aregawi then dominated the IAAF Diamond League scene before winning gold at the World Championships in Moscow. But Göteborg was an event she will never forget and she was quick to thank the support of the crowd.
“It feels wonderful,” said Aregawi. “The Swedish audience supported me very well.”
But if that was excitement enough, the day ended with a stunning 60m men' final.
While Aregawi had built the drama with her one-woman show where the result was never in doubt, this sprint was the total opposite.
Great Britain’s James Dasaolu was the favourite after the semi-finals where he finished as the quickest man in 6.52, a personal best. And in the final, he made the best start, looking like he would go all the way.
From lane five, Dasaolu was in control but with the line fast approaching, Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut came charging up on his inside. They finished side-by-side, with Dasaolu falling as the race ended.
To the naked eye it was impossible to work out who had taken the glory.
The photo-finish had the same outcome, as it needed a wait before Vicaut was given gold, even though both men had run a world-leading time of 6.48 ahead of Italian Michael Tumi in third in 6.52.
Vicaut was given the nod by the narrowest of margins, on a weekend where he had brought his personal best down from 6.53 to 6.48.
'I am very satisfied. I fought hard and relaxed, so it went very well. It’s nice to be on the winning end of that decision,' he said.
Dasaolu replied, 'I have been so injury-prone over the last few years and this was my first winter in a long time when I have been healthy. I knew I was in shape but I could not believe the time. I am very happy with the silver.'