Impressive Power triumphs in Gent
By Daire Walsh
Templeogue native Nadia Power continued her excellent start to 2021 by winning the 800 metres race at an IFAM meeting in Gent, Belgium on Saturday.
Two weeks ago, Power set a new Irish 800m indoor record on her way to finishing second at the Vienna International Meet. In what was her first race of the season, the Dublin City Harriers Athletic Club member clocked in at a time of 2:02.44 – beating her previous best by more than three seconds.
She maintained this fine form in Gent, registering the second-fastest time of her career at 2.02.83. Yet, whereas Britain’s Kelly Hopkinson edged her at the finishing line in Vienna, Power claimed the gold medal spot on this occasion.
The times recorded by her nearest competitors – 2:03.75 for Germany’s Tanja Spill and 2:03.91 for Italy’s Elena Bello – underlines how emphatic Power’s victory was in the end.
The Dubliner won’t have long to bask in this latest glory, however, as she will be back in action in the 800m race at the World Indoor Tour (Gold) in Torún, Poland next Wednesday. Following the conclusion of that competition, Power’s focus will immediately switch to the European Indoor Athletics Championship – set to take place at the same venue from March 5-7.
In between these two events, Power was to compete at the National Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown next weekend. Unfortunately, Athletics Ireland ultimately decided to cancel this year’s competition, due to the fact the country is still under Level Five restrictions in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.