It was a family affair as a thrilling European Athletics U23 Championships drew to a close in Espoo on Sunday (16) evening.
Sophie O’Sullivan and Larissa Iapichino, daughters of former world champions Sonia O’Sullivan and Fiona May added more gold to their family’s trophy cabinets and Markus Rooth followed the example of younger cousin Andrea, who earlier in the day won the women’s 400m hurdles, to also top the podium.
Iapichino maintained her brilliant summer season by winning the women’s long jump with a first round 6.93m (+1.2m/s). It equalled the European lead and was an outdoor personal best for the talented Italian by nine centimetres.
Iapichino, who won European indoor silver in Istanbul in early March, added a second round 6.67m (+1.1m/s) but then stepped away from the runway, confident she had done enough in deteriorated conditions.
Sweden’s double European U20 champion Maja Åskag came closest with a final round 6.73m (+0.9m/s) for silver and Tessy Ebosele bagged bronze with a fifth round 6.63m (+0.2m/s).
"After the first jump, I was very happy because it was a really good jump. After that, I did not want to risk too much because of the rain and the conditions and saved the last attempt.
"It is so nice to compete with my age group. It has always so fun and I had my team mates cheering for me today so I enjoyed it a lot. This result gives me a really positive vibe before the next races so we will see. I am not very much relaxed person so I always stress a bit that there can be someone who can jump over me.
"They are all good jumpers and I am very proud of them and happy for their performances. The best memory is the medal ceremony with my whole team - singing songs together. We had a great time together," said Iapichino.
O'Sullivan stuns Healy to claim a historic gold for Ireland in the 1500m
There was an Irish 1-2 in the women’s 1500m final, but perhaps not in the order most expected. Top ranked Sarah Healy led the field from the gun to just over 100 metres to go.
But Sophie O’Sullivan attacked coming off the bend and Healy could not quite get back on terms as O’Sullivan took gold in 4:07.18 with Healy 0.18 adrift and Britain’s Shannon Flockart winning bronze in another personal best of 4:08.37.
The gold medallist is the daughter of Irish icon Sonia O’Sullivan, a three-time European champion and world 5000m champion in 1995. This was Ireland’s first ever European U23 gold medal.
Afterwards, a thrilled O’Sullivan said: “My plan was just to keep up with these girls until like the last 200m before the finish. So, I just tried to stay as close as I could. Then I just had to get going. I did not matter that much about the time but I felt it was my chance.
“Before the race, my mother just advised me to stay as close as I can. She wished me a good luck, nothing too crazy, just to enjoy it. She is still both for me - a great athlete and a mum.”
Markus Rooth overhauled overnight leader and Norwegian teammate Sander Skotheim to win the decathlon with a national record and championship record of 8608 points, eclipsing a record which was held by current European champion Niklas Kaul from Germany.
Skotheim, who won European U20 silver two years ago led overnight by 93 points, but Rooth was much closer to his best on day two.
After Rooth moved clear with three events left, opportunity beckoned for Skotheim in the pole vault, one of his stronger events. But both athletes had to settle for a 5.10m clearance. For Rooth it was a personal best, for Skotheim it was 25 centimetres below his best.
In the 1500m, Skotheim had to beat Rooth by an unlikely 20 seconds. He gave it a good go, winning in a personal best of 4:16.60. But Rooth kept him in his sights and came home in 4:29.66, another personal best.
Skotheim settled for silver with 8561 points and the Netherlands’ Sven Roosen took bronze with 8128 points.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics