by Alfonz Juck
Polish fans, Bydgoszcz, August 10, 2019, photo by Stuart Weir
Here’s an update on the 2019 European Team Championships, with all of the behind the scenes info, from EME News by Alfons Juck.
EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
POINTS
BYDGOSZCZ (POL): An excellent day for France ended with men 4×100 m disqualification and so home Poland leads by 12.5 (192) over 180.5. Distant third Italy 171 just one point ahead of Germany 170 and Britain fifth 161.5. Spain is sixth 157 with Czech Republic having overnight the last place securing the top league in 2021. They have the same 128 as 8th Ukraine, but one individual win, Ukraine none. In relegation space are Greece 113, Switzerland 106, Finland 102.5 and Sweden 101.5.
SANDNES (NOR): Despite only one win Portugal is the surprise leader with 163 some 23 points ahead of favorites Netherlands 140 and Norway 139. Also Turkey is close 137 with Belarus 5th 135. After this teams it starts to be close concerning relegation. Currently doing good Ireland 120 and Romania 118, in first relegation place Slovakia 116 followed by Belgium 111 and Hungary 108. Distant 11th Lithuania 91. The 12th Russia is not competing.
VARAZDIN (CRO): In pole position for higher class after day one is Estonia with 185 points. Only six points behind Slovenia (179), in third Latvia 165 followed by Israel 161.5 and Denmark 161. Home side Croatia is 6th with 149. Then relegation space starts with Bulgaria 143 and last five places (to be relegated) Cyprus 141 with Austria 139.5. And with more space behind Luxembourg 92, Georgia 65 and Malta 52.
SKOPJE (MKD): Serbia is in 8 points lead in Third League in the promotion position (230). Second Iceland 222, third Bosnia and Hercegovina already with some distance 206 followed by Moldova 202.5. Fifh Armenia way behind top four with 157 points followed by North Macedonia 141.5 and Montenegro 141. San Marino is 8th 128.5 and Kosovo 9th 90.5. Last four places for Albania 77.5 ahead of Azerbaijan 68, Andorra 47.5 and Small States 37.
RESULTS
BYDGOSZCZ (POL, Aug 10): Poland’s Michal Haratyk achieved championships record of 21.83m in the shot, comfortably beating Czech Republic’s Thomas Stanek (20.65). Another Polish win in the throws went to Wojciech Nowicki, who threw 78.84m ahead of France’s Quentin Bigot (76.70m). Patryk Dobek of Poland won the 400m hurdles in 48.87 ahead of five season’s or personal bests headed by Ludvy Vaillant 48.98. Even more expected as a winner was Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic, who duly delivered with 55.10 in women hurdles. Greek success in jumps, Miltiádis Tentóglou won the long jump with 830 (+1.8) and other European champions also won, Paraskevi Papahristou dominated the triple jump with 14.48 (+1.8) and Katerini Stefanidi pole vault 470 (Lisa Ryzih no-heighted). With Lisa Marie Kwayie of Germany a non-starter in the 100m, France’s Carolle Zahi took it in 11.31 (-2.5). Daryll Neita, who had earlier run more than halfway when failing to hear a recall gun, was second 11.33. France’s Jimmy Vicaut produced a win in the 100m with 10.35 (-1.4) over Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs (10.39). Also France topped initially both sprint relays with 43.09 (Switzerland in first race 43.11) and 38.29 over Britain 38.73, but men were later disqualified. With a 2:01.21 season’s best, Renelle Lamotte of France reversed her European indoor defeat to Shelayna Oskan-Clarke of Britain 2:01.45. Italy’s David Re, as expected, was a big winner in the 400m in 45.35. Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause pulled away on the last lap of the steeplechase for her expected win in 9:36.67. A season’s best (and equalled PB) of 2.26m was enough to give Spain’s Miguel Angel Sancho the high jump win as European champion Mateusz Przybylko was fourth. Yeman Crippa duly took victory in the 5000m too, clocking 13:43.30 as he moved away from Swiss Julien Wanders 13:45.31. Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersetic produced a dominant win in the 400m in 51.23 from Lea Sprunger of Switzerland 51.84. With Alina Reh out of the 3000m, Sweden’s Yolanda Ngarambe took the expected win, clocking 9:07.67 PB. Big-race performer Marcin Lewandowski of Poland easily beat the fastest on paper, GB’s Charlie Grice with 3:47.88 to 3:48.35, courtesy of a 51.6 final lap. France’s Alexi Alais set a PB of 63.46m to win the javelin ahead of Maria Andrejczyk 63.39 SB.
SANDNES (NOR, Aug 10): Ingebrigtsens made the crowd in their home town happy. They won easily and made victory laps despite rain. Filip in the 5000 m 13:37.09 and Jakob the 1500 m in 3:43.43 in typical tactical races for this kind of competition. This were the only two winning marks better than in Bydgoszcz. But there was more for the 3000+ crowd as Hedda Hynne topped the 800 m in 2:04.94, Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal the 3000 m 9:45.20 (over Dutch Maureen Koster 9:46.29) and Amalie Iuel the 400 m hurdles in 55.80 (over European U20 champion Femke Bol 56.97 and European U23 champion Pauline Couckuyt 56.99). Surprise leaders Portugal had only one win by Carlos Nascimento in 100 m with 10.64 (-2.6). Netherlands topped shot put by Denzel Comenentia 20.61, Marije Van Hunenstijn was the fastest in the 100 m 11.63 (-1.8) and European medalist 2018 Lisanne de Witte topped the 400 m as expected 52.05 over improved Lithuanian Modesta Morauskaite 52.43. Olympic medalist Yasmani Copello scored top points for Turkey with 49.23 in the 400 m hurdles beating Dutch Nick Smidt 49.99. Turkey won the 4×100 m in 39.46 and Alperen Acet high jump with 221. Two wins also For Slovakia as Martina Hrasnova dominated hammer 71.64 and triple jumper Tomas Veszelka with 779 (+0.6) PB won the close long jump battle. Belarus had only one full points action by javelin thrower Tatsiana Khaladovich 61.17. Ireland and Romania no wins, but in relegation positions Belgium two wins by Jonathan Sacoor 46.43 in the 400 m and women 4×100 m 44.53. Also Hungary registered steeple winner Viktoria Wagner-Gyurkes 9:53.48 and Lithuania Dovile Kilty 14.28 (+0.9) PB in triple jump ahead of Romanian Elena Panturoiu 14.24 (+2.7, legal 14.06). Women pole vault was moved due to bad weather to Sunday and indoor hall.
VARAZDIN (CRO, Aug 10): Second League produced two best marks of the day across all leagues. World discus champion Sandra Perkovic on home soil 68.58, also European lead 2019. Slovenian Tina Sutej achieved 465 and 470 national records in the pole vault, the second one the same as Katerini Stefanidi in the top class. Leaders Estonia had Magnus Kirt as expected getting the javelin 81.47. Top quality also men´s shot put won by Luxembourg´s Bob Bertemes 21.62 over home Filip Mihaljevic 21.03. Bulgarian Gabriela Petrova got 14.14 (+1.3) in triple jump, another winner from this country Tihomir Ivanov 224 in high jump and Ivet Lalova-Collio 100 m 11.51 (-1.9). Austrian Markus Fuchs won the 100 m in 10.64 (-2.6) and with colleagues also 4×100 m in 39.88, with another win for Austria by Andreas Vojta 14:28.01 in the 5000 m. Four wins for Latvia as Maksims Sincukovs topped the 400 m hurdles in 49.83 (national U23 record), Elvijs Misans long jump 778 (-0.2), Liga Velvere 800 m 2.03.45 and Laura Igaune hammer 66.82. One more win for Slovenia by Luka Janezic in the 400 m 46.13, women 400 m for Cyprus Eleni Artymata 51.93 and 4×100 m 44.15. European U23 Champion Anna Emilie Moller got the 3000 m in 9:12.59, Sara Slott Petersen 400 m hurdles in good quality 55.76 and Nick Jensen 3:54.97 in the 1500 m for Denmark. Israel had steeple win by Adva Cohen 10:21.07.
SKOPJE (MKD, Aug 10): Surprisingly also Third League produced one top result of the day from all categories. National record holder Luiza Gega from Albania achieved in steeple 9:25.80. Good quality also 20.10 in shot put by Asmir Kolasinac from Serbian leading team. They also had as winners Elzan Bibic in the 1500 m 3:47.79, Strahinja Jovancevic 739 (-0.1) in long jump, Jasmin Halili 210 in high jump and Milos Malesevic 5000 m 14.47.05. In women events Milana Tirnanic 11.50 (+1.0) in the 100 m, Maja Ciric 53.32 in the 400 m, Teodora Simovic 3000 m 9:23.86 PB and Dragana Tomasevic 59.19 discus. Iceland had
Asdis Hjalmsdottir 57.04 in javelin, Hunda Thorsteindottir 360 pole vault and both relays 40.44 and 45.81. But Anita Hinriksdottir was only second in the 800 m 2:06.16 beaten by Bosnian Jelena Gajic 2:05.82 PB. Also for Bosnia winning Rusmir Malkocevic, 51.84 in the 400 m hurdles. Albania had except of Gega also Franko Burraj 46.48 in the 400 m and Moldova Serghei Marghiev 73.54 hammer and Iuliana Dabua 12.90 (-0.3) triple jump. Home team of North Macedonia scored men´s 100 m win by Jovan Stojovski 10.72 (-0.6) PB and Drita Islami 60.81 in women 400 m hurdles.
