Over the hollidays, European Athletics looks back on our major events in 2013. To begin with, here is the first half of a two-part review of the 2013 European Athletics Team Championships.
The European Athletics Team Championships Super, First, Second and Third Leagues all took place simultaneously on 22-23 June. Athletics is an individual sport but this format gives European nations the opportunity to face one another as a team over two days of competition.
A is for...
‘A’ weekend to remember across Europe with countless national records, championship-best performances and European leading marks.
B is for...
BANSKA BYSTRICA in Slovakia, the venue for the Third League which included the combined teams of Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino under the banner of the Athletic Association of Small States of Europe (AASSE). Victory went to the Slovaks who triumphed with 531.5 to earn promotion along with Latvia with 484.5. The AASSE finishing second from bottom with 130.5, ahead of Albania with 65.5.
C is for...
CYPRUS, and in particular their 110m hurdler Milan Trajkovic who broke the national record with victory in 13.67 in the Second League in Kaunas.
D is for...
DUBLIN, which was home to the First League where at the Morton Stadium, the Czech Republic won with 351.5, being joined in promotion by Sweden 311 and the Netherlands 299 but there was the disappointment of relegation for Bulgaria and Switzerland, both with 206.
E is for...
Ekelund. At the Second League in Kaunas, Denmark’s Nick Ekelund-Arenander had quite a weekend when he achieved his own personal 1-2-3. He won the 400m in 45.93, he finished second in the 200m in 21.25 – both times were personal bests – and then he anchored the team to third in the 4 x 400m relay in 3:10.60.
F is for...
FAMILY. At the Third League in Banska Bystrica, the Vel„akova twins from Slovakia had a quite a time of it in front of their home fans as Jana won the long jump with 6.41m and Dana triumphed in the triple jump with 13.74m.
G is for...
GATESHEAD, where the international stadium played host to the Super League. On the two previous occasions the arena had been a lucky omen for hosts Great Britain with the men winning the competition in its old guise of the European Cup in 1989 and 2000. This time the home team were third with 338 points as Russia retained their crown by completing a hat-trick of victories with 354.5 from Germany with 347.5.
H is for...
HINRIKSDOTTIR. A golden year for the brilliant Iceland teenager Anita Hinriksdottir saw her win the middle-distance double in Slovakia as she took the 800m in 2:01.17 and 1500m in 4:16.51. A month later the 17-year-old won the 800m at the World Youth Championships in a championship record of 2:01.13 before a week after that lifting gold in the same event at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Rieti in 800m. All part of the glory which saw her win the female Rising Star title at the European Athlete of the Year awards.
I is for...
ILHAM TANUI OZBILEN. The Turkish middle-distance runner had a fabulous weekend at the Super League in Gateshead, winning the 1500m in 3:38.57 and finishing second in 1:47.39 in the 800m to bank his country 23 points.
J is for...
JESSICA JUDD. Everyone has to make their name somewhere, and these Championships proved to be the place for Great Britain’s teenage new 800m star who, just a few days after completing important A-level exams, scored top grades on the track when she won the 800m in 2:00.82 on her full international debut.
K…is for KAUNAS
The second largest city in Lithuania welcomed the Second League where, at the Darius and Girenas Stadium, the hosts earned promotion, finishing second with 209 points behind Slovenia who won with 221 but there was relegation for Cyprus with 155 and Israel with 150.
L is for...
LAP, and the last lap of the men’s 5000m in Gateshead. Great Britain’s Mo Farah produced one of the most sensational final 400m for a 5000m that championship athletics has ever seen. He had almost jogged around for the first 4600m before leaning forward, as though he was entering the blocks, as they hit the bell and then unleashing himself on a last 400m which he ran in an amazing 50.89.
Come back tomorrow for the second half of the 2013 European Athletics Team Championships A to Z ...