Irina Davydova en route to European gold in Helsinki (© Getty Images)
Twelve finals took place on day three (29) at the 21st European Athletics championships in the Helsinki Olympic stadium with two world-leading performances emerging.
World leads for Davydova and Saladuha
The women’s 400m Hurdles was a command performance by the largely untested Irina Davydova of Russia who came to Helsinki as world leader and finished the race with her reputation enhanced by improving her world leading time by a tenth of a second to 53.77 to take gold. Silver went to the extraordinary Denisa Rosolova of the Czech Republic who took up the one-lap hurdles again this year after an eight-year absence from the event and came away with a 54.24 PB. Bronze went to the fast finishing Anna Yaroshchuk of the Ukraine in 54.35 PB who just managed to deprive the Czech Republic’s Zuzana Hejnova of a medal in the last five metres.
And with one bound she was free, or rather, any one of four jumps would have sufficed to give the Ukraine’s Olha Saladuha gold in the Triple Jump. The first one was enough, though, since it went out to 14.99m for a world lead. Silver was also claimed in the first round by Portugal’s Patricia Mamona with a 14.52m NR while bronze went to Russia’s Yana Borodina (14.36m).
Notable Firsts by Maslak and Borzakovskiy
Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic, sporting white arm socks, won his country’s first ever European medal, let alone gold, at the men’s 400m in a time of 45.24. The result was never in doubt as Maslak confidently took the initiative from gun to tape to dominate the race. 20-year-old Hungarian Marcell Deak-Nagy grabbed a clear silver (45.52) while France’s Yannick Fonsat in lane one won bronze three metres down on the Hungarian in 45.82.
Despite all his medals, Yuriy Borzakovskiy had never competed over 800m at these championships, only the 400m. In what must be regarded as the twilight of his career, the wily old fox suckered the field into thinking he was a spent force. The young Frenchman, Pierre Ambroise Bosse, had outmuscled him in the semis and clearly thought he would do so again. However, a stately first lap of 55.17 from the Frenchman meant that the Russian’s sting was well and truly intact as the racing started. Entering the finishing straight, the 2004 Olympic champion applied the coup de grace and no one could live with him, winning as he pleased in 1:48.61. Denmark’s Andreas Bube snatched silver while Bosse hung on for bronze.
Following bronze and silver in the last two editions, Britain’s Rhys Williams finally struck gold in the 400m Hurdles in a season’s best 49.33. Emir Bekric of Serbia, who had impressed in the qualifying rounds, came through for silver while Russia’s Stanislav Melnikov just held on for bronze.
With Spain’s Victor Garcia poised to sprint for 3000m Steeplechase gold together with defending champion, Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad of France, and looking the likelier of the two to win, he clipped the final barrier and missed his golden opportunity. But the Spaniard recovered sufficiently to hang on for bronze as Turkey’s Tarik Langat Akdag stole in for silver. The Frenchman’s winning time of 8:33.23 was the slowest since 1958.
Grabarz's rise continues
In his breakthrough year, Britain’s Robbie Grabarz, took High Jump gold on countback with 2.31m from Ravydas Stanys of Lithuania (2.31m, PB) but with more failures than the Briton. Third was France’s Mickael Hanany on 2.28m. It was Britain’s first gold at these championships for 62 years.
David Storl made it a Shot double for Germany, following on from Nadine Kleinert’s win earlier in the evening, with a season’s best 21.58m, though his first put of 21.19m would have been sufficient. Rutger Smith of the Netherlands took silver (20.36m) with Serbia’s Asmir Kolasinac taking bronze (20.36m).
Hjelmer shocks in the 400m
In the Nordic twilight – it was the final event of day three – Sweden’s Moa Hjelmer ran the perfectly judged race to take 400m gold in a national record 51.13. As they entered the straight, it looked like Italy’s race with Libania Grenot in the lead, but Hjelmer came through from third to first while Grenot faded badly to sixth. Silver went to Russia’s Kseniya Zadorina while Ilona Usovich of Belarus took bronze.
What a humdinger of a race the women’s 800m was, won in 1:58.51 by Yelena Arzhakova of Russia. Teammate Irina Maracheva took on the suicide mission at the front and set about running the legs off the opposition with a withering first 400m of 57.29. Stuck to her shoulder like a limpet was Maryna Arzamasava of Belarus and Arzhakova. Rounding the bend into the straight all three fanned out for the sprint for the line with Arzhakova immediately creating a decisive break. Sensing weakness up front, out from the pack shot Linsey Sharp of Great Britain who had been 20 metres down in seventh at 700m, to rush through for silver while a tiring Maracheva held on for bronze with Arzamasava fading to fourth.
Finally gold for Kleinert, Rebryk surprises in Javelin
At the age of 36 and with countless campaigns behind her, Germany’s Nadine Kleinert finally claimed the ultimate prize of gold for the first time in her career with a throw of 19.18m. Second was Russia’s Irina Tarasova (18.91m) while bronze went to Italy’s Chiara Rosa (18.47m).
Christina Obergfoll must have thought she had finally cracked it. Silver last time round and leading the Javelin with a first round throw of 65.12m, along came the Ukraine’s Vira Rebryk in round five to pull the proverbial rabbit from the hat with a national record 66.86m. Bronze was lifted by defending champion Linda Stahl of Germany.
Michael Butcher for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS
World leads for Davydova and Saladuha
The women’s 400m Hurdles was a command performance by the largely untested Irina Davydova of Russia who came to Helsinki as world leader and finished the race with her reputation enhanced by improving her world leading time by a tenth of a second to 53.77 to take gold. Silver went to the extraordinary Denisa Rosolova of the Czech Republic who took up the one-lap hurdles again this year after an eight-year absence from the event and came away with a 54.24 PB. Bronze went to the fast finishing Anna Yaroshchuk of the Ukraine in 54.35 PB who just managed to deprive the Czech Republic’s Zuzana Hejnova of a medal in the last five metres.
And with one bound she was free, or rather, any one of four jumps would have sufficed to give the Ukraine’s Olha Saladuha gold in the Triple Jump. The first one was enough, though, since it went out to 14.99m for a world lead. Silver was also claimed in the first round by Portugal’s Patricia Mamona with a 14.52m NR while bronze went to Russia’s Yana Borodina (14.36m).
Notable Firsts by Maslak and Borzakovskiy
Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic, sporting white arm socks, won his country’s first ever European medal, let alone gold, at the men’s 400m in a time of 45.24. The result was never in doubt as Maslak confidently took the initiative from gun to tape to dominate the race. 20-year-old Hungarian Marcell Deak-Nagy grabbed a clear silver (45.52) while France’s Yannick Fonsat in lane one won bronze three metres down on the Hungarian in 45.82.
Despite all his medals, Yuriy Borzakovskiy had never competed over 800m at these championships, only the 400m. In what must be regarded as the twilight of his career, the wily old fox suckered the field into thinking he was a spent force. The young Frenchman, Pierre Ambroise Bosse, had outmuscled him in the semis and clearly thought he would do so again. However, a stately first lap of 55.17 from the Frenchman meant that the Russian’s sting was well and truly intact as the racing started. Entering the finishing straight, the 2004 Olympic champion applied the coup de grace and no one could live with him, winning as he pleased in 1:48.61. Denmark’s Andreas Bube snatched silver while Bosse hung on for bronze.
Following bronze and silver in the last two editions, Britain’s Rhys Williams finally struck gold in the 400m Hurdles in a season’s best 49.33. Emir Bekric of Serbia, who had impressed in the qualifying rounds, came through for silver while Russia’s Stanislav Melnikov just held on for bronze.
With Spain’s Victor Garcia poised to sprint for 3000m Steeplechase gold together with defending champion, Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad of France, and looking the likelier of the two to win, he clipped the final barrier and missed his golden opportunity. But the Spaniard recovered sufficiently to hang on for bronze as Turkey’s Tarik Langat Akdag stole in for silver. The Frenchman’s winning time of 8:33.23 was the slowest since 1958.
Grabarz's rise continues
In his breakthrough year, Britain’s Robbie Grabarz, took High Jump gold on countback with 2.31m from Ravydas Stanys of Lithuania (2.31m, PB) but with more failures than the Briton. Third was France’s Mickael Hanany on 2.28m. It was Britain’s first gold at these championships for 62 years.
David Storl made it a Shot double for Germany, following on from Nadine Kleinert’s win earlier in the evening, with a season’s best 21.58m, though his first put of 21.19m would have been sufficient. Rutger Smith of the Netherlands took silver (20.36m) with Serbia’s Asmir Kolasinac taking bronze (20.36m).
Hjelmer shocks in the 400m
In the Nordic twilight – it was the final event of day three – Sweden’s Moa Hjelmer ran the perfectly judged race to take 400m gold in a national record 51.13. As they entered the straight, it looked like Italy’s race with Libania Grenot in the lead, but Hjelmer came through from third to first while Grenot faded badly to sixth. Silver went to Russia’s Kseniya Zadorina while Ilona Usovich of Belarus took bronze.
What a humdinger of a race the women’s 800m was, won in 1:58.51 by Yelena Arzhakova of Russia. Teammate Irina Maracheva took on the suicide mission at the front and set about running the legs off the opposition with a withering first 400m of 57.29. Stuck to her shoulder like a limpet was Maryna Arzamasava of Belarus and Arzhakova. Rounding the bend into the straight all three fanned out for the sprint for the line with Arzhakova immediately creating a decisive break. Sensing weakness up front, out from the pack shot Linsey Sharp of Great Britain who had been 20 metres down in seventh at 700m, to rush through for silver while a tiring Maracheva held on for bronze with Arzamasava fading to fourth.
Finally gold for Kleinert, Rebryk surprises in Javelin
At the age of 36 and with countless campaigns behind her, Germany’s Nadine Kleinert finally claimed the ultimate prize of gold for the first time in her career with a throw of 19.18m. Second was Russia’s Irina Tarasova (18.91m) while bronze went to Italy’s Chiara Rosa (18.47m).
Christina Obergfoll must have thought she had finally cracked it. Silver last time round and leading the Javelin with a first round throw of 65.12m, along came the Ukraine’s Vira Rebryk in round five to pull the proverbial rabbit from the hat with a national record 66.86m. Bronze was lifted by defending champion Linda Stahl of Germany.
Michael Butcher for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS
