by Larry Eder
ZURICH (SUI): The qualification standards have been set. In high jump 228 and 194, pole vault 565 and 540, long jump 800 and 665 and triple jump 16.65 and 14.20. Here specially men triple shows a down in this event. On the throwing side shot put 20.10 and 17.50, discus 64.00 and 57.50, hammer 75.00 and 69.50 and javelin 81.00 with 57.50.
ZURICH (SUI): European team champion 2013 and two-time Russian national champion in women steeple Natalia Aristarkhova, who has 4th result in European season list, dropped off from European Championships because of problems with achilles. Informs head coach of Russian team Valentin Maslakov.
ZURICH (SUI): World and Olympic winner in discus Robert Harting is the captain of the German team. The throwing star was already successful captain during the European Team Championships won in June by Germany.
ZURICH (SUI): British sprinter James Dasaolu says that he is at “pretty much 100%” fitness leading into the 100m at the European Championships, an event in which he is ranked 2nd on season’s bests out of the entrants. The 26 year old said that he has no injuries concerns or niggles and that his training has been going well. He has increased his training load in an effort to prepare for the rounds at the championships.
ZURICH (SUI): Renaud Lavillenie is relaxed, fully fit and looking forward to challenging for a third consecutive European pole vault title, report European Athletics. The Olympic pole vault champion hopes to achieve his 20th consecutive victory and his third consecutive European Championships title in Zurich. “It’s very important to me to win the European title three times in row,” said the 27 year old. “It will prove I am very consistent. It will be exciting to be back in the arena.” His foot injury is healed and hasn’t been sore for a month, and he says that he is in the same shape as he was in this winter.
ZURICH (SUI): At Zurich City Hall, European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz, spoke about how the Letzigrund Stadium, which has been the stage for the established elite at the Weltklasse meet, will, for the first time, create champions in the stadium. “Up to now there has been a famous meeting which showed champions – but here, now, we make them,” said Wirz. Zurich 2014 CEO Patrick Magyar spoke of the involvement and pride that the city of Zurich have in hosting the European Championships. The city has been beautifully prepared and the local culture, music and art will all be displayed during the championships. The warm up tracks of Utogrund and Sihlholzli have been developed so that they can be used for athletics in the future, a crucial part of the legacy of the championships.
ZURICH (SUI): French athletes have high goals and high confidence heading into Zurich. Christophe Lemaitre wants to win three golds like he did in 2010. He thinks that the feat is possible and hopes that he can peak perfectly like he did in Moscow last year. He will be furious if he doesn’t achieve his goals as he says that he has worked very hard. Jimmy Vicaut admits that after his second injury of the season, he thought his chances in Zurich were gone. He thinks that if he can get to 90% of the shape he was in in Eugene (where he ran 9.89w he can do very well and he says that his injury problems are now behind him). Kevin Mayer is very confident ahead of the decathlon, saying “I made ​​the most complete preparation of my career. I have improved physically and mentally.” He said he was inspired by Pierre Ambroise Bosse and Pascal Martinot Lagardes’ national record performances in Monaco and he wants to do likewise soon. He is confident that he can win in Zurich.
ZURICH (SUI): Italy’s Libania Grenot has lived and trained in the USA for three years under Loren Seagrave. The 31 year old former Cuban leads the European list heading into Zurich and hopes to use the mental strength she has crafted over the last three years to help her succeed in the Swiss city saying “I’m ready to blossom.” Report stampa.it.
ZURICH (SUI): Germany’s gold medal favourite Kai Kazmirek says that he has trained very hard and is healthy and fit ahead of the start of the decathlon on Tuesday, inform dpa. “This is my first major championship,” he said. “I want above all to have fun and gain experience.” The 23 year old, European u23 champion, said that the three Germans will try and help each other over the two days of competition.
ZURICH (SUI): World champion Abeba Aregawi is in good form ahead of the women’s 1500m heats in Zurich. Earlier in the season she had stomach problems and then trained hard while on strong medication which also negatively affected her performance. She recently injured her ankle, but after 4 easy days she was back in full training. Neither problems are present as she undergoes her final preparations for the Europeans.
ZURICH (SUI): First performances of the event will be provided by shot putters Jan Marcell of Czech Republic and Spain´s Carlos Tobalina who will start their qualification groups of shot put at 10.04 am.
ZURICH (SUI): The participation figure presented on Monday was 1439 athletes in total, 788 men and 651 women from 50 countries. The number of countries equals the maximum from Barcelona and Helsinki, that is exactly the number of European Athletics member federations. The number of participants is the highest ever. From London Olympic winners 9 are entered, from Moscow 2013 World champions 11.
