Russia bagged three golds and hosts France two on the second day of the European indoor athletics championships on Saturday, while Britain’s Mo Farah defended his crown in the men’s 3,000m final.
Russian Yelena Arzhakova triumphed in the 1,500m in a time of 4 minutes, 13.78 seconds and she was at a loss to explain the result.
“I really did not expect to win this race. I do not know what was in my mind, I was just running like crazy and I had a lot of luck,” Arzhakova told reporters.
Photo: AFP
Farah completed the 3,000m in a slow time of 7 minutes, 53 seconds, holding off Azerbaijan’s Hayle Ibrahimov for Britain’s first gold of the championships.
“It was a tough race. I had to push myself in the last lap,” Farah said.
Anna Avdeeva started Russia’s dominance by winning the women’s shot put with a throw of 18.70m to beat German duo Christina Schwanitz and Josephine Terlecki.
Ivan Ukhov then leapt 2.38m to claim the men’s high jump gold, with Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic second and fellow Russian Aleksandr Shustov taking bronze at the Bercy complex in the French capital.
Italy’s Simona La Mantia dashed Russia’s hopes of an early clean sweep by seizing victory in the women’s triple jump final with a world-best effort this year of 14.60m, to leave Olesya Zabara frustrated with her silver medal.
France enjoyed success on Friday with Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida winning the women’s pentathlon and day two brought more gold, with Renaud Lavillenie’s championship record of 6.03m in the pole vault, where he edged out compatriot Jerome Clavier.
A capacity Paris crowd was then thrilled by Leslie Djhone winning the men’s 400m title, but there was disappointment for the French in the men’s long jump, where silver medalist Kafetien Gomis lost out to Germany’s Sebastian Bayer.
France’s Teddy Tamgho, who qualified first on Friday, was fourth, but he has another chance in the triple jump when he will aim to break his own indoor world record set last month.
Denisa Rosolova of the Czech Republic set a personal indoor best of 51.73 seconds to take the women’s 400m gold.
Several heats and semi-finals also took place on Saturday, with hosts France boosted by Christophe Lemaitre qualifying fastest for the 60m final, while defending champion Dwain Chambers of Britain was joint third-fastest.
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