by Alfonz Juck
Mehidine Mekhissi, photo by PhotoRun.net
This is Alfons Juck’s review of day three of the European Champs. Nice to see Monsieur Mekhissi keep his kit on during the steeplechase. In the 2014, after winning the race, the French steepler was disqualified. The finest of European steeplers won the steeple in 2016, and was rewarded with the gold medal.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 3
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Gold medal is important for me, but it was like a training for me. Main goal is gold in Rio. It was not easy I was out for 20 months because of injuries,” French steeple winner Mekhissi.
“I did not feel like I stepped on the line,” Churandy Martina.
“I knew there will be a million coaches who will say what I should have done but I still believe that starting at that height was a good decision,” Renaud Lavillnie.
RESULT OF THE DAY
10.90 by Dafne Schippers, nearly no wind, getting colder and no tough opposition.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
No-height by Renaud Lavillenie at 575, at that time all others already finished their competition. Spanish win at 200 m by Bruno Hortelano belongs also to this category.
FAVORITE FALLS
In this department the initial win by Churandy Martina in the 200 m, then disqualified for stepping out of the lane in first meters of the race. Also it should be mentioned that on the other side top favorites Wlodarczyk, Spanovic and Perkovic won their events along with Arikan, Mekhissi, Copello and Grenot who were top favorites too.
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. On Friday no European lead 2016.
MEDALS (24 countries)
TUR 3-4-1, GBR 3-1-3, GER 2-2-3, ESP 2-1-1, NED 2-0-2, POL 2-0-0.
POINTS (30 countries)
GBR 98, GER 74, TUR 65, NED 47, ESP 44, FRA 43.
AGENT RANKINGS (by individual gold medals)
Valentina Fedyushina 3, Carinne Knapp-Messerschmidt, Daniel Wessfeldt, Caroline Feith 2, Julia Garcia, Steffen Keil, Robert Wagner, Aivar Karotamm, Ricky Simms, Helena van der Plaetsen, Rene Auguin, Alberto Armas, Marcello Magnani, Janusz Szydlowski, Czeslaw Zapala 1
STATS (by Ken Nakamura)
DT: 69.97 by Perkovic is the longest DT in Amsterdam and her 4th gold in the event.
100 m: Also 10.90 is the Amsterdam fastest time by Dafne Schippers. 0.30 is the biggest winning margin (auto time) at Eurochamps.
3000 mSC: Bennabad won third gold at 3000m in @Euro_Champs Malinowski is the only other SC to win multiple medals at @Euro_Champs. The winning margin of 4.28sec is the second largest (9.6 in 1946) winning margin.
10 000 m: TUR became fourth nation (FIN, ITA and GBR) to win gold and silver at 10000m in @Euro_Champs.
LJ: 694 is the longest winning WLJ in @Euro_Champs since 1998.
200 m: First medal for ESP and TUR at 200m in @Euro_Champs.
400m: Grenot successfully defended W400m crown at @Euro_Champs, she now joins Itkina, Koch and Breuer as fourth multiple gold medalist.
400mH: First medal for TUR and ESP at 400mH in @Euro_Champs.
WHT: Third straight gold for Wlodarczyk at WHT in @Euro_Champs. 2.37m by Wlodarczyck is the second largest winning margin at WHT in @Euro_Champs.
400m: @MartynRooney became second 400m runner to successfully defend @Euro_Champs title at 400m. Another Briton Roger Black was first.
AMSTERDAM NEWS
AMSTERDAM (NED): Ireland will have paralympic star Jason Smyth in their 4×100 m team. Also French star Jimmy Vicaut agreed to run the 4×100 m in Amsterdam for France.
AMSTERDAM (NED): German hammer thrower Betty Heidler after her silver confirmed Amsterdam was her last European Championships.
AMSTERDAM (NED): Renaud Lavillenie after no-heighting is already planning to satisfaction in Rio. He will fly on August 3 to Brazil and plans to compete until then twice. At Sotteville meet on July 18 and at London DL Meet one week later.
