Six Deep Thoughts on Day 2, 2022 European Athletics Championships
Sandra Perkovic of Croatia in action during the ATHLETICS – WOMEN’S DISCUS THROW FINAL at Olympiastadion during the European Championships 2022 on August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany. Photo: Daniel Kopatsch / Munich2022
1. Sandra Perkovic had to call on her inner discus goddess to win this one. Kristen Pudenz, GER, threw a national record to keep Perkovic from winning her sixth discus title, but Sandra was not to be stopped. Claudine Vita gave Germany a second medal in the discus, much for German fans to celebrate.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway in action during the ATHLETICS – MEN’S 5000M FINAL at Olympiastadion during the European Championships 2022 on August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany. Photo: Thomas Niedermueller / Munich2022
2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen defended his 5,000m title from Berlin when he was a wee lad of 17. The Norwegian used a 2:23.16 last 1000m and a final lap of 53.14 to held Mohammed Katir, ESP to the silver position, with Yemane Crippa, ITA holding on for the bronze medal. A fine 5,000m and Jakob Ingebrigtsen was halfway there on his 2022 Munich desired double.
Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece in action during the ATHLETICS – MEN’S LONG JUMP FINAL at Olympiastadion during the European Championships 2022 on August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany. Photo: Daniel Kopatsch / Munich2022
3. The Greek sets a Long Jump CR! Miltiadis Tentoglou leaped 8.52 meters, a championshp record. Thobias Montler, SWE, long time LJ star, took silver in 8.06 meters, and Jules Pommery, FRA, in 8.06m. This writer believes that Jacob Fincham-Dukes got totally screwed when his 8.06m was protested so, like a Philip K. Dick novel, it went into a parelell universe and the Briton went to fifth.
Niklas Kaul of Germany in action during the ATHLETICS – MEN’S DECATHLON 1500M at Olympiastadion during the European Championships 2022 on August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany. Photo: Daniel Kopatsch / Munich2022
4. One of the most spectacular decathlons in my memory. Simon Ehammer, Swiss star, lead for eight events. Then, Niklas Kaul, relaxed, throws a 76.05 meter javelin throw, a huge PB, and puts the gold medal in play. Kaul, the 2019 Doha WC champ, ran a 4:10.4 PB at 1,500m and won the decathlon, 8545 SB, to Simon EHammer, SUI, 8468 NR and Janek Oiglane, EST, in 8,346, with Marcus Nilsson, SWE, 8327 PB and Maicel Uibo, 2019 silver, EST, 8,324.
Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy in action during the ATHLETICS – MEN’S 100M FINAL at during the European Championships 2022 on August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany. Photo: Marc Mueller / Munich2022
5. The Men’s 100 meters was spectacular as the Olympic champion, LaMont Marcell Jacobs took the gold out of the hands of defending champion Zharnel Hughes, GBR, with Jeremiah Azu, GBR, taking bronze! Jacobs looked fantastic as he took control with 80 meters and went on to winning his first European outdoor title.
Gina Lückenkemper of Germany celebrates after the ATHLETICS – WOMEN’S 100M FINAL at Olympiastadion during the European Championships 2022 on August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany. Photo: Marc Mueller / Munich2022
6. This was a classic 100 meters. Gina Luckenkemper, GER, had already won bronze and silver in EAC. Luckenkemper in this race, took the gold from Mujinga Kambundji, SUI with her last 20 meters! Daryll Neita, GRB took bronze, and Dina Asher-Smith stopped at 30m with calve cramps, fearing a severe injury.
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.
