Yelena Slesarenko (RUS) - 2.02m in Munich (© Getty Images / Bongarts)
In a dramatic finale France defended the SPAR European Cup men’s title in Munich just edging out the German team. Both teams collected 116 points and had the same number of winners as well. But France had more second placers than Germany.
As expected there was no such drama in the women’s event, where Russia succeeded for a record eleventh time in a row and for the 16th time in history.
About 15,000 spectators watched the final day of the SPAR European Cup in Munich’s Olympic Stadium in very warm and dry weather conditions.
MEN
After 17 events the German team still looked very much in control on their way to a possible 13th Cup triumph. But that suddenly changed during the two following events. First Germany’s javelin thrower Mark Frank only managed fifth place with 76.10m in an event won by Aleksandr Ivanov (Russia / 82.57m). Then there was a crucial German defeat in the 3000 metres which cost them heavily. While France’s Bob Tahri took this event with 7:51.32, Germany’s Carsten Schlangen finished last with 8:33.27. Suddenly, before the final 4x400m France had taken the lead by four points.
But the 4x400m team of the French was far weaker than in former years while Germany’s is stronger. That left a very small chance of turning it around for the Germans. Ingo Schultz, Kamghe Gaba, Matthias Bos and Bastian Swillims did a tremendous job and almost succeeded. Bastian Swillims overtook the lead from Britain’s Daniel Caines a few metres from the finish line. But then Poland snatched victory at the last moment in a European lead for 2007 of 3:01.70 minutes and so denied Germany the Cup win. The Germans ran 3:01.77 in the final event while Britain was third with 3:01.92.
With both France and Germany tied at 116 points and four individual wins the number of second places had to be decisive. Here France had a 6:4 advantage against the Germans. It was the third SPAR European Cup win for France, following last year and 2003 in Florence. Poland (110), Great Britain (101) and Russia (93) took the next few places, while promoted Greece managed to avoid relegation in sixth place (70). Ukraine (58.5) and Belgium (53.5) were relegated.
Devonish – European lead
Similar to Craig Pickering another British sprinter produced a fine performance in Munich: With a tail wind of 1.0 Marlon Devonish clocked a European lead for this season of 20.33 seconds over 200m. Behind him David Alerte (France/20.34) and Anastásios Gousis (Greece/20.43) both clocked personal bests.
“It was a great race, I drove out of the blocks quick. I am really satisfied with the result and I have the feeling that there is a lot more to come. May aim is to do well in Osaka,” said Marlon Devonish. “I was a bit nervous before the start, because I am the team captain and wanted to set an example. I feel a bit like the father of the team since we have so many young athletes in the team.”
Doucouré – "it was tough"
The 110m Hurdles saw Ladji Doucouré repeat his European Cup win and even achieving a hat-trick in this competition. The French World Champion took the lead at about the third hurdle and then won with 13.35 seconds, improving his season’s best by two hundredth of a second.
“I had a bad start and massive problems after two steps. It was tough, but I wanted to win to get maximum points for my team,” said Doucouré.
Andy Turner (Great Britain) took second in 13.48, but slightly limped afterwards holding his thigh. Thomas Blaschek (Germany) finished third in 13.51. “I was fine for the first three hurdles, but then I had some technical problems. In training it is all fine,” said Blaschek.
Petrenko and Lobinger - jump long, vault high
In the jump, Aleksandr Petrenko (RUS) and Tim Lobinger (GER) showed fine performances. The Russian triple jumper achieved a personal best of 17.29m to win his event. Philips Idowu, Great Britain’s European Indoor champion, was second with 17.21m, which he jumped on his last attempt. With Mykola Savolaynen (Ukraine/17.09), another one also jumped beyond 17 metres.
“I was pretty lucky today, because when I jumped the wind was supporting me and that made the difference. I was more thinking about a personal record than about winning”, said Petrenko, who improved by eleven centimetres.
Tim Lobinger won the Pole Vault with 5.70m, which he cleared at his second attempt. He then tried for 5.85m, but missed this three times. When Lobinger had cleared 5.70m France’s Romain Mesnil saved his last attempt for 5.75m but could not clear this height either. He was second with 5.65m while Denys Yurchenko (Ukraine/5.60) took third.
Since he won his event and jumped the qualifying mark for Osaka as well Lobinger now has a guaranteed ticket to the World Championships. “It was a perfect day for me with a perfect result. Now I want to win a medal in Osaka,” said Lobinger.
WOMEN
The winners Russia collected 127 points for another big victory. France finished in second position 20 points adrift and Germany placed third with 94.5. Poland (89), Ukraine (81) and the promoted team of Belarus (80) took the next places while Greece (75) and Spain (64.5) were relegated in Munich.
75.86 for Lysenko
At the start of Day Two, the Hammer Throw produced one of the best results of the weekend. As expected World record holder Tatyana Lysenko won the event, but two more throwers achieved marks beyond the 70m. While Lysenko threw 75.86m in a fine series (73.04, 74.53, 75.86, x) Germany’s Betty Heidler took second (73.55) and Oksana Menkova (Belarus/73.03) was third. It was some late consolation for Heidler, who had fouled out a year ago in Malaga.
“I could have done better today, but I won eight points for my team. It is now my aim to concentrate on Osaka, where I want to win with a World record. To achieve that I will have to put on some more weight,” said Lysenko.
2.02m for Slesarenko
In the High Jump, Yelena Slesarenko (Russia) showed that she is in consistent form for heights above two metres. Having won the High Jump in Oslo’s IAAF Golden League meeting nine days earlier with 2.02, the Olympic Champion jumped that height again in Munich. While she had cleared 1.98m only at her third attempt she jumped 2.00 and 2.02 m at her first each. Slesarenko then went for 2.05 but missed this three times.
The 5000 m were not a particularly fast race, but this was also due to the heat in the afternoon. Olga Krautsova was the one who took the initiative early in the race and then lead all the way. She clocked 15:20.35 minutes to win from Sabrina Mockenhaupt (Germany/15:23.96) and Kalliopi Astropekaki (Greece/15:46.22). Liliya Shobukhova, the World indoor record holder at 3,000 m from Russia, had to be content with fourth place in 15:51.53.
“I ran a steady pace and watched the screens in the stadium, because I thought Liliya Shobukhova would be my strongest opponent. Now I will prepare for the World Championships in Osaka”, said Olga Krautsova, who broke away after the 3000 m mark. Mockenhaupt could almost hold on but Shobukhova fell far behind after that point.
In the final event the Russian 4x400 m relay team was disqualified because of a false start by Zhanna Kashcheyeva, who had also produced the first false start. Then there was a third false start, but this time the signal came because of a technical failure.
Still there was no danger for the Russian women, since they had a lead of 26 points before that race. Belarus won the relay with a national record. Yulyana Yuschkana, Iryna Khliustava, Sviatlana Usovich and Ilona Usovich ran 3:23.67 minutes.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
Winners of further events in Munich:
Men:
800 m: Pawel Czapiewski POL 1:49.00
3000m Steeplechase: Filmon Ghirmai GER 8:38.78
Triple Jump: Aleksandr Petrenko RUS 17.29
Discus Throw: Piotr Malachowski POL 66.09
Women:
200 m: Muriel Hurtis-Houairi FRA 22.83
1500 m: Sylwia Ejdys POL 4:17.05
100m Hurdles: Yevheniya Snihur UKR 12.92
Long Jump: Eunice Barber FRA 6.73
Shot Put: Anna Omarova RUS 19.69
