Back at the venue where they retained the European Champion Clubs Cup Senior Group A last year, Italy’s men from G.A. Fiamme Gialle are in a strong position to triumph again.
After the first day of the competition in Portugal’s Vila Real de Santo Antonio on Saturday, they lead by 11 points from TJ Dukla Praha, of the Czech Republic, and the host nation’s Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
Spain’s women are in charge of their competition with Valencia Terra i Mar taking a five-point overnight lead ahead of Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Fiamme Gialle find themselves at the top of the table after a series of fine individual victories.
Nicola Vizzoni triumphed in the hammer with the first throw of the competition, his 73.31m enough for all eight points, even though he would have watched with interest as Dukla’s Lukas Melich reached 72.46m in the second round, an effort which secured him second spot.
The early track races proved profitable for the Italians as Leonardo Capotosti won the 400m hurdles in 50.58 and Fabio Cerutti took the 100m in 10.68.
Cerutti had a good first day as he ended it by running the first leg of the 4x100m relay which the Italians were in control of as they won in 39.18 from Dukla in 40.09 and Enka in 40.29.
Lisboa’s Marcos Chuva gave the home crowd a victory to celebrate as he won the long jump with a final round leap of 7.79m and Dukla confirmed their place in second as Jakub Holusa won the 5000m in 14:06.32 and Jakub Vadlejch finished first in the javelin with 76.41m from the third of the four rounds.
Bulgaria’s European 100m champion Ivet Lalova is top of the European rankings with her 11.10 from Gavardo last Sunday and this time 11.52 was enough to give her Turkish club Enka Spor Kulubu victory.
But just behind her was Valencia’s Fatima Diame in 11.88, winning an important six points on the way to her team leading the women's event overall.
That second place proved a good foundation for the Spaniards.
Diame's teammate Mercedes Chilla, the 2006 European bronze medallist, scored maximum points from the javelin which she won with 52.53m from the third round while Ursula Ruiz’s final shot put of 16.28m brought another victory, improving just on her opening effort of 16.27m.
Then, Diana Martin won the 3000m steeplechase in 9:58.26.
But Sporting Clube de Portgual are pushing Valencia all the way after they had wins in the 400m with Catia Azevedo in 52.61, the 3000m, as Catarina Ribeiro was first in 9:14.08, and the triple jump, with Patricia Mamona’s third round effort of 13.92m bringing seven points.
HOW THEY STAND AFTER DAY ONE
MEN
1. G.A. Fiamme Gialle (ITA) 64 points
2. TJ Dukla Praha (CZE) 53
3. Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 50
4. Playas de Castellon (ESP) 46
5. Enka (TUR) 43
6. Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers (GBR) 42
7. Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) 32
8. Entende FranconVille Césame Val d`Oise (FRA) 29
WOMEN
1. Valencia Terra i Mar (ESP) 63
2. Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) 58
3. USK Praha (CZE) 50
4. Enka Spor Kulubu (TUR) 45
5. Edinburgh AC (GBR) 36
6. Sparta (DEN) 29
7. AK Spartak Dubnica (SVK) 25