by Larry Eder
The 2014 European Championships are to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, from 12-17 August. With teams from fifty countries, and 1400 plus athletes, the continent is well represented. Some fine battles are brewing, from Lemaitre and Gemili over 200 meters, to Mo Farah taking on the continent, to Hassan and Aregawi in the 1,500 meters for women.
Short event by event preview
Men
100 m: Lemaitre wants to defend, Vicaut and his health (last race June 21) and 3 rounds challenge for Dasaolu. Another group headed by Reus with Chambers.
200 m: Lemaitre vs Gemili, one of the top duels. Waiting behind Martina, Ndure, Guliyev and Smelyk.
400 m: The Borlees against British duo H-Smith and Rooney. Surprise from Krzewina?
800 m: Bosse looks clear, but Polish star duo is not happy with that (Kszczot, Lewandowski), in slow race more names can come up.
1500 m: One of the open affairs. Ingebrigtsen and Tesfaye on paper, Mekhissi with his double, Ozbilen as always there, surprise from other Germans and Holusa.
5000 m: Mo should be clear here, anybody´s chance for other medals (Abdi, Vernon, Tahri, Ibrahimov), some favorites doubling, will know more after 10k.
10 000 m: First test of shape for Farah, behind him big group with medal potential (Arikan, Meucci, Gabius, Tahri, Abdi, Vernon among others).
Marathon: Host nation hopes for Abraham, farewell for defender Rothlin, Lamdassem, Lalli, Szost to be mentioned.
Steeple: Mekhissi expected as clear choice, behind him Garcia, Langat, Zalewski and surprise Tsenov.
110mH: Clash of top trio: PML vs Shubenkov vs Sharman. Sub 13 was never achieved at Eurochamps.
400mH: Time for Estonian surprise Magi or home hope Hussein. Flannery and Barr also from the new generation. Not to forget World medalist Bekric.
HJ: Who can chase Bondarenko? Ukhov with Tsyplakov or team-mate Protsenko? Champs record 236 should go.
PV: AirLavillenie will be tough to beat (and he goes for hattrick). Czech Kudlicka and Polish trio for other medals, will be Filippidis back to indoor shape?
LJ: Duel of two R´s: Rutherford vs. Reif. World champ Menkov plans to be back in shape. Also strong T´s: Tsatoumas and Torneus.
TJ: Another open affair, Adams was injured, old-timers Oprea and Evora will they be back in 17+ region, possible good bet Compaore.
SP: World champ Storl looks clear, but Majewski always grows at big occasions, Lesnoy is there with big result, but Vivas, Kolasinac, Marcell with recent good shape.
DT: Another German bet for gold with Harting, Malachowski will not give up, bronze for Kanter or another German? Will meet record 68.87 go?
HT: Pars vs Fajdek, duel of two best in the world, is Kozmus coming back to shape or time for new medalist, somebody like Lomnicky.
JT: Full Moscow podium (Vesely, Pitkamaki, Tarabin), improved Germans Hoffman and Rohler will fight for medals too.
Dec: Strong Germans (Kazmirek the headliner) against Mayer, Sintnicolaas. Experienced group with Kravchenko and Kasyanov. New name will be crowned as champion.
20 km walk: World champ Ivanov, but is he the real favorite? Maybe more his team-mate Strelkov, Ukrainian Dmytrenko and Spanish Lopez.
50 km walk: Also here World champ Heffernan, Eurochamp Diniz, World Cup winner Toth, with Ryzhov, Hlavan and strong Polish trio.
4×100 m: As in individual races, also here Britain vs France, for bronze Germany or Netherlands.
4×400 m: Tough to chase Britain, possibly Belgium, Russia can do it.
Women
100 m: Schippers vs Soumare, part I, other players Lalova, Sailer, Philip.
200 m: Schippers vs Soumare part II, other players Jodie and Bianca Williams.
400 m: Grenot on paper, Veshkurova best Russian, Zemlyak best Ukrainian, how fast will by World champ Ohuruogu? No one from former Eurowinners competes.
800 m: Not a clear favorite, Poistogova of course is Olympic medalist, Sharp leads strong British trio, Arzamasava and Masna also ready.
1500 m: Hassan vs Aregawi, the top running duel. British options for bronze.
5000 m: Will Hassan really run 5k heats between 1st round and final of 1500? Pavey and Bahta other options.
10 000 m: Calvin won European Cup, Bleasdale is the fastest, Pavey to double, Belete to be mentioned, how strong is Portugal duo Moreira with Felix.
Marathon: World medalist Straneo, French record holder Daunay, Olympic medalist from track Abeylegesse. Or something on A: Aguilar, Augusto. Or title defender Incerti.
Steeple: Unusual Scandinavian favorites Fougberg with Eriksson. Aristarkhova leads the Russian challenge.
100mH: Billaud vs Porter, Hildebrand and Zagre for bronze.
400mH: Child boosted from Commonwealth Games, Rosolova with increased shape, Davydova is the title defender.
HJ: Experience (Vlasic, Beitia, Licwinko) vs newcomers (Kuchina, Kasprzycka, Simic).
PV: Greek chance (Stefanidi, Kyriakopoulou), Germans headed by Ryzih, Russians by Sidorova, defender Svobodova.
LJ: Lesueur vs Kuchina, what about World medalist Spanovic, young Mihambo and olympic 5th placer Klyashtornaya.
TJ: Koneva for Russian gold, will previous double winner Saladuha challenge her? Mamona for bronze.
SP: Looks clear – Schwanitz, then Kolodko, then? Possibly Dubitskaya.
DT: Perkovic for hattrick of wins, tough fight for minor medals (Craft, Fischer, Strokova, Robert-Michon).
HT: Wlodarczyk vs Heidler another top duel. Klaas, Hrasnova and Bulgakova also ready for the podium. Top chance for new meet record (76.67).
JT: All set for Spotakova triumph, Hatsko improved recently, Ratej was good in DL, Stahl was the world leader. Good chances for new champs record 67.47.
Hep: Benelux ready here with Broersen and Thiam, Djimou is title defender, surprise from Klucinova.
20 km walk: Russian trio headed by Kirdyapkina, in shape Italian Giorgi, Czech World junior champ Drahotova, Olyanovska of Ukraine and fast Takacs of Spain.
4×400 m: Britain and Ukraine look strong, Russia this time not that strong, France and Italy (with Grenot) with Poland also there.
