On a damp and breezy evening at the EuroChamps in Zurich with ten gold medals to be decided, the Swiss crowd acclaimed their own Kariem Hussein, as they roared him tovictory in the men's 400m hurdles. His time of 48.96 secs was a personal bestand enough to push the pre race favourite Magi back to second with Kudryavtsevthird. After being such hospitable hosts, it seemed only fitting that theyshould share in the medals at their home championships. It was one of manyhighlights in the Letzigrund stadium last night.
The men's and women's 200m finals were won in world class times by Britain’s AdamGemili and Holland’s Dafne Schippers.
The Dutch lady was a class apart as sheset a world leading time of 22.04 secs to take gold from Jodie Williams, withSoumare third. Her future plans will now need consideration, as she haspreviously preferred the heptathlon and was third in the prestigious Gotzis event earlier this season.
Gemili was no less impressive in defeating Lemaitre in his final, the secondsilver the Frenchman has had to be satisfied with behind a Brit this week. Histime of 19.98 secs was into a strong headwind and given the cool conditions,John Regis' UK record must be under threat soon. Bronze went to Smelykwho set a new pb, just ahead of defending champion Martina.
Both the men's and women's 400mtitles were also decided.
The men's final lost Jonathan Borlee due toinjury, but the quality was still evident as GB’s Martyn Rooney set a Euroleading time in finally winning a major title in 44.71 secs after Commonwealth disappointment. He just held off fast finishingcompatriot Hudson-Smith who set a new pb of 44.75 secs for silver, with third to Sanford of Israel in a National Record 45.27 secs.
World Champion Christine Ohuruogu could not emulate her fellow Brits in thewomen’s 400m final, as despite battling down the home straight she wasultimately edged out into 4th place in a blanket finish for theminor medals.
Libania Grenot of Italy dominated the final to take gold in a relativelymodest time of 51.10 secs, with the photo finish confirming Zemlyak in silver,two hundredths ahead of Terrero in bronze, with the Brit given the same time.Ohurugu is having a relatively relaxed competitive yearbut this result will no doubt act as spur for thewinter hard work ahead of next year's world champs.
France’s defending champion Nana Djimou was in no mood to relinquish her Euroheptathlon title as she raised her game in the final event of seven, the 800mto overtake her main rival for gold, Broersen on the second lap and take gold with6551 points overall.
Thiam of Belgium struggled in that event but still hung onfor bronze behind Broersen. The overall lead changed hands several timesduring the two days, but Nana Djimou’s 54.18m throw in the earlier javelindiscipline seemed decisive.
Favourite Bosse of France faded badly to eventually finish last in the men's800m final after leading through the bell in around 51 secs. His acceleration between 400m and 600m seemed to have taken himclear, only for the field to catch up reaching the final bend as the Poles took a 1-2through Adam Kszczot in 1:44.15 with a pb for fast finishing Kuciapski goodenough for silver. Mark English claimed a rare Irish medal in third.
The women's 1500m turned into the expected battle at the front between the twoEthiopian converts, as Hassan of Holland had just too much for Aregawi ofSweden on the last lap.
Britain's Laura Weightman showed some of coach SteveCram's class and nous to steal a march on the rest of the field and wasrewarded with a gritty bronze, just ahead of Plis of Poland.
The poor conditions put paid to chances of a 2-40 height in the high jump, butinstead a game of cat and mouse developed between the two Ukrainians: Bondarenko and Protsenko, as they each passed heights to try to gain anadvantage. Bondarenko it was, that prevailed from his compatriot, the worldchamp winning with a clearance at 2-35m. Ukhov the Olympic champ could onlyclear 2-30m for bronze with Baba just missing out on a medal on countback.
Thewomen’s hammer final saw Anita Wlodarczyk retain her title with a championshiprecord distance of 78.76m but only after two no throws.
Her third throw tookthe lead and she clinched the gold with her fifth attempt. Behind her, Hrasnovatook silver ahead of Fiodorow.
Three Britains including Olympic champ Greg Rutherford qualified for the men's long jump final, but it was Tsatoumas of Greece whojumped furthest at 8.19m. Reif of Germany may go into the final as slightfavourite, but both defending champion Bayer and France’s Sdiri were surprisenon qualifiers.