by Larry Eder
The Roma 2024 Championships are just six weeks away from Paris, and we will be watching each day closely. Stuart Weir is providing main views of Rome, with EME News daily updates and RunBlogRun updates on the finals.
The 2024 European Athletics Outdoor Championships are less than two months from the Paris Olympics. Held in the Stadio Olimpico, the home of the Rome 1960 Olympics, the first day opened in a dream way for the host country, Italy.
The day’s first event was the 20-kilometer race walk, which was won by Antonella Palmisano, Italy, who toured to cheers from the many Italians on the loop course in 1:28.08. Valentina Trapletti, Italy, took silver in 1:28.37. Lyudmila Olyanovska, Ukraine, won a heartbreaking bronze, who went by a prematurely celebrating Laura Garcia-Caro, ESP, both timed in 1:28.48.
In a battle of the titans, Kristjan Ceh, SLO, 68.08mupset world record holder and defending champion Mykolas Alekna, who was relegated to bronze, 67.48m by Lukas Weibhaidinger, AUT, 67.70m. Daniel Stahl, Swedish discus star, finished 4th.
In the women’s shot put, the Netherlands went gold and silver! Jessica Schilder, NED, took gold once again, throwing 18.77m, SB 18.67m, and Jorinde Van Klinken took silver. Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye, 2024 world indoor silver medalist, threw 18.62m.
Two more finals ended on the first night of the competition.
In the Mixed relay, 4x400m, Ireland won its first gold in the Europeans since 1998 and Sonia O’Sullivan! The team of Christopher O’Donnell, 46.09, Rhasidat Adekake, 49.53 (NCAA champion, 400m, 2023), super vet, Thomas Barr, 44.90 and Sharlene Mawdsley, 49.40 for a CR 3:09.92. Italy took second in NR 3:10.69, and Femke Bol delivered a bronze for the Netherlands in 3:10.73. Her team gave her the task of covering way too much real estate for NED to have a chance to win!
In the final event of the night, the 5,000m, Italy took another gold and established a new National record; Karoline Grovdal led until the very last 100 meters. Grovdal took the field through even 3-minute kilometers for the first three, then brought the page down dramatically, leading 4900 meters. Nadia Battocletti, ITA, set an NR and MR with her at 14:35.29. Karoline Grovdal, NOR, who gave it her all, took silver in 14:38.62, with Spain’s Marta Garcia taking a tough bronze in NR 14:44.04. Fourth was Maureen Koster, PB 14:44.46, and Nathalie Blomquvist, 14:44.72. The battle for the bronze was terribly close.
Impressions on the first day? Our man in Rome, Stuart Weir, noted, ” It is hard to host a meet in a 60,000-seat stadium,” as the crowd on day 1 of the six-day affair was quite modest.
You can watch this meet for free at:
Live Streaming, including events highlights, will be available also available on European Athletics website + Eurovision Sport
A live blog will be available here.
Live results will be available through https://www.european-athletics.com (registration required)
RunBlogRun will be covering the event remotely and on-site for the RunningNetwork from June 7-12, 2012.
If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].
Photos are courtesy of European Athletics unless otherwise noted.
