by Alfonz Juck
Ruth Beitia, 2016 Euro HJ Champ, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ruth Beitia won the European HJ on day 2. Interestingly enough, when I asked Vashti Cunningham, US HJ phenom, who she admires most, “Ruth Beitia”!
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“This could actually be a perfect way to end my career but I still have one last dream I hope to achieve, which is winning a medal at the Olympics in Rio,” Ruth Beitia after winning the high jump.
“After everything that happened last year, this has so much significance,” Thomas van der Plaetsen decathlon winner.
RESULT OF THE DAY
Churandy Martina coming from behind and winning the 100 m by 0.005 over Jak Ali Harvey (10.061 to 10.066). Also his fastest of the year.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Javelin winner Zigismunds Sirmais with personal best 86.66 m.
FAVORITE FALLS
Thomas Rohler 5th in javelin, Jimmy Vicaut 3rd in 100 m. Also out in qualifications German throwers Wierig in discus and Hussong in javelin.
FOUR EUROPEAN LEADS 2016 (5)
Schwanitz shot put (also 2nd best in the World 2016), Copello 400 m hurdles (also NR), Grenot 400 m, Roleder 100 mHurdles. From first day Can 10 000 m.
MEDALS (17 countries)
GER 2-0-1, TUR 1-1-1, GBR 1-0-1
POINTS (22 countries)
GBR 35, GER 32, BUL 18
AGENT RANKINGS (by individual gold medals)
Julia Garcia, Carinne Knapp-Messerschmidt, Steffen Keil, Robert Wagner, Aivar Karotamm, Ricky Simms, Helena van der Plaetsen, Caroline Feith, Valentina Fedyushina 1
STATS (by Ken Nakamura)
JT: First gold for Latvia in men javelin at Eurochamps. Third medal for Vesely (gold in 2012, silver in 2014).
LJ: 0cm difference between 3rd and 4th ties minimum at LJ in @Euro_Champs Previously in 1958 and 1982 difference bet 3rd and 4th was also 0cm.
100 m: 10.03 by Vicaut is the fastest 100m semi in Euro Championships.
100mH: 12.62 is the fastest winning time in W100mH in @Euro_Champs since 2006.
200m: Asher-Smith won first gold for GBR at W200m in @Euro_Champs.
SP: Dereli won first medal for TUR at WSP in Euro @Euro_Champs.
HJ: Ruth Beitia won third gold at WHJ in @Euro_Champs. She now has most gold at WHJ in EUro, one more than great Iolanda Balas (1958, 1962).
Dec: 8218 is the lowest winning score at Decathlon in @Euro_Champs since 1974, although technically speaking current score is valid since 1985.
400mH: 48.42 by Copello is the fastest semi final time at 400mH in European Championships.
OTHER AMSTERDAM NEWS
AMSTERDAM (NED): Fionnuala McCormack has lashed out at foreign athletes running for Turkey after finishing fourth in the 10,000m at the European Championships in a race won by Kenyan-born Yasemin Can, informs the Irish Independent. “There doesn’t seem to be anything that can be done about it. People have taken such a soft approach. It’s a joke really,” she said.
AMSTERDAM (NED): Jenny Meadows has announced her retirement from athletics after exiting in the semi-finals of the 800m at the European Championships, informs BBC. “It is time to pass over to the next generation. I did think my career would either end here or in Rio in a few weeks’ time. I’ve done this sport for 28 years, I’ve given my all and it’s taken a lot from me. I definitely won’t miss it,” said Meadows. The Brit won the 2011 European indoor 800m title after Evgeniya Zinurova was disqualified for a doping offence and Meadows wants to become further involved in anti-doping.
AMSTERDAM (NED): World 200m finalist Zharnel Hughes has been struggling with a knee injury this summer. He finished fourth at the UK Championships and didn’t progress through his heat at the European Championships. . “I need to rest up now and get myself sorted for next year,” he said.
AMSTERDAM (NED): Disqualification of European Indoor Champion 2015 and World Indoor silver medalist this year Jakub Holusa remained valid despite the protest of Czech Team. Jury of Appeal decided that his disqualification was right, he with his way of running sent Swedish runner out of the track which was against the rules.
