• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Track & Field

Redemption for Mekhissi-Benabbad, Second gold for MO Farah at European Champs, by David Monti, RRW, used with permission

Larry Ederby Larry Eder
August 17, 2014
0
0 0
0
SHARES
5
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mekhissi-Benabbad_Euros_2014_1500m_Victory_Smaller_Jane_Monti.jpg

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France (r) winning the 2014 European Championships 1500m ahead of Henrik Ingebrigtsen of Norway (silver) and Chris O’Hare of Great Britain (bronze).  Ireland’s Paul Robinson and Germany’s Homiyu Tesfaye are also in the photo. (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)


The first thing I wanted to say about the men’s 1,500 meters is that it was slow, and then, just amazingly fast. The second thing was that Irish runner Ciaran O’Lioniard fell and was hurt, through no fault of his own.The third thing, I wanted to note is that Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad must have had a serious chat with the Federation as he a) kept his shirt on, b) kept the celebration civilized. 

Here is David Monti’s piece on the 1,500 meters and women’s steeplechase. 


REDEMPTION FOR MEKHISSI-BENABBAD, SECOND GOLD FOR FARAH AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

ZURICH (17-Aug) — On the final day of the 21st European Championships here at the Stadion Letzigrund, France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad and Britain’s Mo Farah both struck gold, but those medals had greatly different meanings.

For the temperamental Mekhissi-Benabbad, who was disqualified after winning the steeplechase last Thursday for removing his uniform top before crossing the finish line, winning today’s 1500m was an emotional imperative.  Fiercely competitive, but also impetuous, Mekhissi-Benabbad ran from the gut today in a slow and sloppy race which saw four athletes tumble to the track in two separate collisions.

“I am an instinctive runner,” Mekhissi-Benabbad told reporters after the race.

Those instincts proved right today, as the tall Frenchman not only managed to avoid the collisions, but benefited from them.  After Ireland’s Ciaran O’Lionaird went down with about 600 meters to go, an even bigger crash ensued just before the bell.  Germany’s Florian Orth stumbled, fell forward and went down to the track.  The defending champion, Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen, had to take quick action to avoid him.

“I had a good position with 400 to go (but) a guy tripped in front of me and I got out of position,” Ingebrigtsen told the press in crisp English.  “He fell right in front of me so I had to take two steps to the left.”

Britain’s Charlie Grice and Ukraine’s Stanislov Maslov also got caught in the colission (Grice actually fell twice), but Mekhissi-Benabbad was in front of the crash and used the moment to sprint away from the field.  Ingebrigtsen was trapped behind the colission.

“It was a bit of a mess,” said Britain’s Chris O’Hare.  “The whole race was a mess.”

But not for Mekhissi-Benabbad.  He quickly hit full flight, and despite Ingebrigtsen’s 3:31 speed, it was simply impossible for him to catch the Frenchman who had such a big lead he was able to slow down and celebrate in the homestretch, although this time his uniform top remained on.  He clocked a painfully slow 3:45.60, more than ten seconds outside of the championships record.

“I knew that I could win today,” he said.  I gave all that I had to win.”

Both Ingebrigtsen (silver) and O’Hare (bronze) accepted the results, but were disappointed that a championships race had played out this way.

“If I had been in a better position with 800 to go, I would have been in a better position to fight for a medal,” said Ingebrigtsen, who ran 3:46.10.  O’Hare, who was timed in 3:46.18, had similar thoughts: “I’m sure pleased with bronze, but gold is what I came for.”

For Farah –whose winning time of 14:05.82 was the slowest since the third edition of these championships in 1946– his victory was more of a coronation.  The double Olympic gold medalist came here to win two gold medals, and did just that.  Nothing less was expected of him.

“History’s very important to me and I always hope to make my country proud,” Farah told European Athletics interviewers.  “There’s been some down times but two golds here is great and now I hope to get ready to face the big guys next year at the IAAF World Championships.”

Farah’s victory did not come without a fight.  After seven laps in the 71-second range, the pace finally got serious with with three laps to go.  Farah, and his British teammate, Andy Vernon, were on the front, and ran a 66.1-second circuit, which Farah followed-up with a 58.3 seconds for the penultimate lap.  But he wasn’t finished.  At the bell he shot ahead and only Azerbaijan’s Hayle Ibrahimov, a former Ethiopian, could go with Farah.

“Mo Farah is my friend but I want to finally beat him one day,” Ibrahimov told European Athletics interviewers.  “I feel like I am always behind him.”

Ibrahimov did his best to catch the Briton, but Farah clocked a blistering 52.3-second final lap, showing the kind of speed that only the world’s best milers possess.

“There’s been a lot of talk about me not being able to deliver but I’ve done my job,” Farah said.

Ibrahimov got the silver (14:08.32) and Vernon got the bronze (14:09.48), backing up his silver medal from the 10,000m.

“I wasn’t sure I’d even get to this startline a few months ago so to get two medals here this week is amazing,” Vernon said.

In a very competitive women’s steeplechase, Sweden’s Charlotta Fougberg led a group of four women out of the final water jump and appeared to have control of the race.  But Germany’s Antje Moeldner-Schmidt fought back, and only took the lead over the final barrier.  The tall German clocked a season’s best 9:29.43 to claim gold, to Fougberg’s 9:30.16.  Spain’s Diana Martin got the bronze in 9:30.70, narrowly beating Belarus’s Svitlana Kudzelich (9:30.99).

“It’s great to win a medal but I wanted the gold medal today,” Moeldner-Schmidt told European Athletics interviewers.  “I worked very hard to recover after my knee gave way off the last barrier but this is a very big medal for me.”

The 22nd European Championships in Athletics will be held in Amsterdam in 2016.


RelatedPosts

Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!

On Being a Better High School Track or Cross Country Coach: Learn Something New Every Day, five tips….

Coffee with Larry, Episode 767, July 15, 2025, Talking about the business of running

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts
Previous Post

With Come from Behind Effort, Meucci Wins European Marathon title, by David Monti, RRW, used with permission.

Next Post

Zurich Diary: Lynsey Sharp takes silver and new PB in 800 meters, by Alex Mills

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!
European Athletics

Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!

July 19, 2025
Josh Kerr and Danny Mackey, considering the Athlete/Coach relationship
Coaching Athletics

On Being a Better High School Track or Cross Country Coach: Learn Something New Every Day, five tips….

July 19, 2025
Eugene Amo Dadzie: The fastest Accountant in the world
European Athletics

Eugene Amo Dadzie: The fastest Accountant in the world

July 19, 2025
2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.
Cross Country

2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.

July 19, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, March 28, 2024
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, Episode 767, July 15, 2025, Talking about the business of running

July 20, 2025
Doha Meeting Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) – 16 May 2025, the Complete Results
Diamond League

2025 London Diamond League Preview: Strong 800m, Lyles versus Tebogo

July 19, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

April 5, 2023
2023 Nike Pre Classic: Two Amazing Days of Track & Field!

Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

March 7, 2024
Grand Slam Track’s Kingston Slam Comes to a Close with 12 Slam Champions

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

April 12, 2025
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

February 6, 2025
Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

8
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!

Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!

July 19, 2025
Josh Kerr and Danny Mackey, considering the Athlete/Coach relationship

On Being a Better High School Track or Cross Country Coach: Learn Something New Every Day, five tips….

July 19, 2025
Eugene Amo Dadzie: The fastest Accountant in the world

Eugene Amo Dadzie: The fastest Accountant in the world

July 19, 2025
2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.

2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.

July 19, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!
European Athletics

Niels Laros, Nine Questions, The RunBlogRun Interview for the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Mile!

July 19, 2025
Josh Kerr and Danny Mackey, considering the Athlete/Coach relationship
Coaching Athletics

On Being a Better High School Track or Cross Country Coach: Learn Something New Every Day, five tips….

July 19, 2025
Eugene Amo Dadzie: The fastest Accountant in the world
European Athletics

Eugene Amo Dadzie: The fastest Accountant in the world

July 19, 2025
2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.
Cross Country

2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.

July 19, 2025

Recent Tweets

Next Post

Zurich Diary: Lynsey Sharp takes silver and new PB in 800 meters, by Alex Mills

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved