The important thing was to start again, "remove some rust" and "find the adrenaline of the race again".
After six months without competitions - he had been missing since the night of gold in the 100m at the European Championships in Munich last August - Marcell Jacobs returned by winning the 60m at the Orlen Cup in Lodz (Poland), stage of the World Indoor Tour. Passed the heat easily with a time of 6"61, the blue Olympian, athlete of the Fiamme Oro, in the final stopped the clock on a time of 6"57.
After a not very brilliant reaction from the starter, Jacobs recovered the slight disadvantage and crossed the finish line without giving the sensation of having pushed to the end.
Second came the Polish Dominik Copec (6"60), third the trinidegio Jerod Elcock (6"63).
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The weather satisfies me up to a certain point - he admitted hotly, on the Rai Sport microphone - We have to try to better understand this first part of the race.
But we are working above all on the basis of the summer, the 100 metres.
I have to start in such a way as to accelerate as best as possible for the 100m, in order to run them with a constant progression.
I can't say I'm happy with the lap time result, but it was important to come back, remove some rust, feel the adrenaline of the race". The next stages towards the most important appointment, namely the World Championships in Budapest (August 19-27) , where he aims to arrive "at the top of his form", will be the meeting in Lievin, the Assoluti indoor in Ancona ("I always want to be present").
Then the indoor European Championships in Turkey (2-5 March) to which he will present himself as world and European champion of the specialty, as well as continental record holder with 6"41 last year in Belgrade: "This year the European Championships will be passing through, because I'm aiming for the summer, for the World Cup.
It's the only medal I'm missing, I have to take it". The 2023 Jacobs has "more maturity and experience.
And still a great desire to win" he concluded confidently.