THREE DAYS OF ATHLETIC RECORDS: THE 74TH BORIS HANŽEKOVIĆ MEMORIAL IS THE BEST MEETING TO DATE -

Three days of fantastic athletics in Zagreb at the end of the athletics season thrilled everyone

Starting next season, with the World Championships in Tokyo, the Boris Hanžeković Memorial will move to a new date and will take place from June 6 to 8, and I believe we’ll once again prepare something new – project manager Natko Bošnjak

The Meeting achieved the highest points total according to the World Athletics ranking in its history—90.476 points, surpassing the previous best from 2021, which had 89,608 points. This is better than the Diamond League meeting in Marrakech, and in terms of results, it even surpassed the Diamond League events in Stockholm and Doha.

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Eight meeting records were broken (Ryan Crouser with 22.93m in the shot put, Marco Arop with 2:13.13 in the 1.000 meters, Nelly Chepchirchir with 1:57.00 in the 800 meters, Stacey Ann Williams with 50.00 in the 400 meters, Emmanouil Karalis with 5.88m in the pole vault, Leonard Bett Kipkemoi with 8:06.33 in the 3.000 meter steeplechase, Syntayehu Vissa with 3:58.33 in the 1.500 meters, and Issac Kimeli with 4:54.29 in the 2.000 meters). Additionally, one world lead was achieved (Arop – 1.000m), along with seven national records, 32 season bests, and in the 2.000 meters, Aldin Ćatović from Serbia ran the U18 European all-time best.

We are incredibly pleased; over 10,000 spectators have watched athletics in Zagreb for over three days. Starting next season, with the World Championships in Tokyo, the Boris Hanžeković Memorial will move to a new date and will take place from June 6 to 8. I believe we’ll once again prepare something new, said event project manager Natko Bošnjak.

Zagreb, Croatia, Meeting — ***PHOTO: Ivan Brajković/BRACOPONE***

Event manager Alfons Juck is also satisfied.

We’re delighted with the weather, the results, and the records. We are currently the best World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting. We might have expected more in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, but all the other results were as excellent as expected. Next year will be completely different, as the meeting will be much earlier. It will take a lot of work to gather the same quality and maintain the standards that have elevated us, and of course, to help Croatian athletics in the process, said Juck

Marco Arop was chasing the world record in the 1.000 meters but failed; nevertheless, he received massive applause from the Zagreb crowd.

Zagreb, Croatia, Photography — **PHOTO: Ivan Brajković/BRACOPONE**

It was my first time in Zagreb, and I’m thrilled. We received so much energy and great support. I’m happy with my performance and believe I’ll break the record next year. Yes, maybe even this year in Brussels in the 800 meters. Next year will be highly demanding, but I believe it will also be good. This season has laid an excellent foundation for that, said Arop.

Erryon Knighton, one of the best young sprinters today, echoed Arop’s sentiments.

I couldn’t come two years ago due to family issues, but I was supposed to be here. I’m glad I finally made it to Zagreb; the impressions are fantastic. People keep saying I’m still young and have time to get better. Whether I should improve my 200 meters with the 100 or the 400 meters – each event has its benefits. I’m somewhere in the middle. The 100 meters helps with speed, and the 400 with endurance. Right now, I’m somewhere at 130 meters. Knighton explained that as I mature, it’ll get even better, said Knighton

As a reminder, the 75th Boris Hanžeković Memorial in 2025 will be held on its new dates – from June 6 to 8.