by Alfonz Juck
Johannes Vetter, photo by Getty Images/ European Athletics
Our friends at EME News put this short piece together on the day 2 of the The Match.
Europe dominated, Vetter over 90 meters
MINSK (BLR, Sep 10): Europe dominated the second day of the historical Match and before 15 000 spectators clearly won 724.5 to 601.5 that means by 123 points. After day one it was only 16 points lead. US had more points for first places (180:153), but then was behind Europe in 2-3-4 positions what was the key factor. The best result of day two was second best javelin of the year by Johannes Vetter 90.03 over World leader Magnus Kirt 88.91, Edis Matusevicius 83.54 and PB for US Michael Shuey 83.21. Another top mark was the 202 PB (also Ukrainian U23 record) clearance for Yulia Levchenko in high jump ahead of Iryna Herashchenko 198 and only third Mariya Lasitskene 198 (her first loss since January 17, that means after 18 wins in a row). Armand Duplantis with 585 confirmed his position and beat Polish duo Piotr Lisek 580 and Pawel Wojciechowski 575, also 575 for Kostadinos Filippidis. Good win in discus for Lukas Weisshaidinger from Austria over Piotr Malachowski (67.22 to 64.89) and also for Orlando Ortega in the hurdles 13.21 (+0.1) beating Sergey Shubenkov 13.39. Another top display of shape by World and European champion Ramil Guliyev 20.16 (0.0) in the 200 m. Amel Tuka from Bosnia was another star of the day as he won the 800 m in 1:46.77 over Adam Kszczot 1:46.89 and in dramatic finish anchored Europe to win in the 4×400 m mixed medley relay (men 200, women 200, women 400, men 800) in 3:21.13 (his 800 leg 1:46.63) just edging USA´s Isiah Harris (3:21.21). Three US men wins for Ben Blankenship 7:57.48 in the 3000 m, Dave Kendziera 48.99 in the 400 m hurdles and Chris Benard 17.01 (+0.4) in triple jump. In women events US wins for Brittany Brown in the 200 m 22.61 (-0.1), life-time best 4:02.49 for Kate Grace in the 1500 m, Sharika Nelvis 12.80 in the hurdles (+0.1), Mel Lawrence in steeple 9:33.24 and in good quality shot put PB for Maggie Ewen 19.47 ahead of Fanny Roos who got Swedish record 19.06 and season best for Hungarian Anita Marton 18.95. Ukrainian Anna Ryzhykova won the 400 m hurdles in 55.32 after Ashley Spencer stumbled at last hurdle while in lead. Spectators celebrated home win for Nastasia Myronchik-Ivanova in long jump 674 (+0.5) ahead of Ukrainian Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk 673 (+0.5) and US star Brittney Reese 671 (+0.1). Joanna Fiodorow got for Europe hammer win 74.34 ahead of Belarus Hanna Malyshik 72.70.
