EUROPEAN JUNIOR XC CHAMPS - VELENJE 11.12.11
HUMBUG MEDAL GLORY!
EUROPEAN JUNIOR XC CHAMPS - VELENJE 11.12.11
HUMBUG MEDAL GLORY!
Goodman takes individual SILVER and joins Fleming team GOLD performance for GB
Given that Richard Goodman was in the form of his life a European Junior silver medal may have been a slight disappointment to both athlete and coach but this race was by far the most competitive of the day with a large group of at least 10 runners in with a shout right up until the last lap. A RECORD 114 ATHLETES TOED THE LINE
The Russians Ilgizar Safiulin (towering above the opposition at 6'4" and 2011 European Steeplechase Champ with 8m37), Andrey Rusakov (30.24 for 10k) and the diminutive Vladimir Nikitin had controlled the pace skillfully with Frenchman Romain Collonet-Spiret (3m47 1500m/8m47 chaser), Britain's Jonny Hay (Euro 5k medallist with a sub 14m 5k/8m02 3k/3m42 1500m), Richard Goodman (3m45 over 1500m/8m12 3k/14m22 5k), and Kieran Clements, Spain's Rui Pinto (my initial favourite for victory and a 14.11 5k performer)) together with Muhammet Emin Tan (8m46 chaser) from Turkey all sitting in waiting for the 'change of pace'. Niall Fleming and Mark Rose were both hanging in there in the low teens on an even pace. It was a surge from Richard going up the hill a third of the way into the last 1500m lap which broke up the field and entering the last 500m it had become a four horse race between European Junior Steeplechase Champion Safiulin, Nifitin, Goodman and Collonet-Spirtet.
Rusakov, Pinto and Hay (all fast finishers) had unexpectedly 'gone out the back door' by now while the brave Clements was just off the pace. Safiulin took the initiative with 150 metres to go and despite a determined sprint from Goodman and Nikitin was to prevail by 2 seconds with a very strong finish. Hannes (3m45 1500m/8m05 3k) finished very strongly in the second group with a 4m17 final 1500m.
A delighted Richard 'had a little lie down' after the finish line (see photo left) and had already begun contemplating Gold in 2012 when GB & NI will be even stronger! Goodman/Shaw/Goodwin/Clements all return while Purnell/Seddon/Benson/Grice/Grace/Farnham-Rose/Goater/Dixon (to name a few), not to mention those going to the States will figure strongly while a plethera of upcoming present U17s will want to test their metall against the creme of the UK scene in 2012 .......
The measure of the quality at the sharp end at this year's Euros is revealed in the last lap splits ........ for the top 5 finishers all were at least 20 seconds faster than any of the three previous laps:-
Safiulin 4.37 9.08 13.35 17.49 (Last 1500m = 4m14)
Goodman 4.38 9.09 13.36 17.51 (4.15)
Nikitin 4.37 9.08 13.36 17.51 (4.15)
Collonet-Spirit 4.37 9.09 13.36 17.53 (4.17 )
Nannes 4.37 9.10 13.41 17.58 (4.17)
Pinto 4.39 9.10 13.37 18.01 (4.24)
Rusakov 4.37 9.08 13.35 18.07 (4.32)
Hay 4.37 9.09 13.36 18.09 (4.33)
Clements 4.38 9.10 13.46 18.18 (4.32)
Fleming 4.38 9.11 13.46 18.18 (4.32)
FINAL RESULTS
1 275 SAFIULIN, Ilgizar RUS 17:49
2 123 GOODMAN, Richard GBR 17:51
3 273 NIKITIN, Vladimir RUS 17:51
4 102 COLLENOT-SPIRET, Romain FRA 17:53
5 22 HANNES, Pieter-Jan BEL 17:58
6 254 PINTO, Rui POR 18:01
7 274 RUSAKOV, Andrey RUS 18:07
8 125 HAY, Jonathan GBR 18:09
9 120 CLEMENTS, Kieren GBR 18:10
10 348 ZHUKOV, Yehor UKR 18:15
11 122 FLEMING, Niall GBR 18:18
12 69 ARCE, Daniel ESP 18:20
13 60 TÆRSBØL, Mads DEN 18:20
14 332 CAVUSLU, Yunus Emre TUR 18:21
15 335 TAN, Muhammet Emin TUR 18:21
16 347 VYKHOPEN, Yuriy UKR 18:27
17 127 SHAW, Mark GBR 18:27
18 149 REHBERG, Stig GER 18:27
19 256 ROLIM, Emanuel POR 18:27
20 192 GERRATANA, Giuseppe ITA 18:29
21 100 BEDRANI, Djilali FRA 18:29
22 148 PFEIFFER, Hendrik GER 18:29
23 307 MAKEVIC, DuSan SRB 18:30
24 175 BYRNE, Jake IRL 18:32
25 124 GOODWIN, Jack GBR 18:33
TEAM POSITIONS:
1. GB 30pts
2. Russia 40pts
3. France 103pts
4. Ukraine 109pts
5. Belgium 118pts
6. Denmark 120pts
7. Germany 127pts
8. Spain 134pts
9. Portugal 152pts
10. Turkey 177pts
11. Netherlands 179pts
12. Republic of Ireland 218pts
13. Norway 241pts
14. Poland 250pts
15. Italy 262pts
16. Slovenia 267pts
17. Serbia 300pts
18. Hungary 327pts
19. Romania 349pts
Overall medal table can be downloaded below:
The Russians Ilgizar Safiulin (towering above the opposition at 6'4" and 2011 European Steeplechase Champ with 8m37), Andrey Rusakov (30.24 for 10k) and the diminutive Vladimir Nikitin had controlled the pace skillfully with Frenchman Romain Collonet-Spiret (3m47 1500m/8m47 chaser), Britain's Jonny Hay (Euro 5k medallist with a sub 14m 5k/8m02 3k/3m42 1500m), Richard Goodman (3m45 over 1500m/8m12 3k/14m22 5k), and Kieran Clements, Spain's Rui Pinto (my initial favourite for victory and a 14.11 5k performer)) together with Muhammet Emin Tan (8m46 chaser) from Turkey all sitting in waiting for the 'change of pace'. Niall Fleming and Mark Rose were both hanging in there in the low teens on an even pace. It was a surge from Richard going up the hill a third of the way into the last 1500m lap which broke up the field and entering the last 500m it had become a four horse race between European Junior Steeplechase Champion Safiulin, Nifitin, Goodman and Collonet-Spirtet.
Rusakov, Pinto and Hay (all fast finishers) had unexpectedly 'gone out the back door' by now while the brave Clements was just off the pace. Safiulin took the initiative with 150 metres to go and despite a determined sprint from Goodman and Nikitin was to prevail by 2 seconds with a very strong finish. Hannes (3m45 1500m/8m05 3k) finished very strongly in the second group with a 4m17 final 1500m.
A delighted Richard 'had a little lie down' after the finish line (see photo left) and had already begun contemplating Gold in 2012 when GB & NI will be even stronger! Goodman/Shaw/Goodwin/Clements all return while Purnell/Seddon/Benson/Grice/Grace/Farnham-Rose/Goater/Dixon (to name a few), not to mention those going to the States will figure strongly while a plethera of upcoming present U17s will want to test their metall against the creme of the UK scene in 2012 .......
The measure of the quality at the sharp end at this year's Euros is revealed in the last lap splits ........ for the top 5 finishers all were at least 20 seconds faster than any of the three previous laps:-
Safiulin 4.37 9.08 13.35 17.49 (Last 1500m = 4m14)
Goodman 4.38 9.09 13.36 17.51 (4.15)
Nikitin 4.37 9.08 13.36 17.51 (4.15)
Collonet-Spirit 4.37 9.09 13.36 17.53 (4.17 )
Nannes 4.37 9.10 13.41 17.58 (4.17)
Pinto 4.39 9.10 13.37 18.01 (4.24)
Rusakov 4.37 9.08 13.35 18.07 (4.32)
Hay 4.37 9.09 13.36 18.09 (4.33)
Clements 4.38 9.10 13.46 18.18 (4.32)
Fleming 4.38 9.11 13.46 18.18 (4.32)
FINAL RESULTS
1 275 SAFIULIN, Ilgizar RUS 17:49
2 123 GOODMAN, Richard GBR 17:51
3 273 NIKITIN, Vladimir RUS 17:51
4 102 COLLENOT-SPIRET, Romain FRA 17:53
5 22 HANNES, Pieter-Jan BEL 17:58
6 254 PINTO, Rui POR 18:01
7 274 RUSAKOV, Andrey RUS 18:07
8 125 HAY, Jonathan GBR 18:09
9 120 CLEMENTS, Kieren GBR 18:10
10 348 ZHUKOV, Yehor UKR 18:15
11 122 FLEMING, Niall GBR 18:18
12 69 ARCE, Daniel ESP 18:20
13 60 TÆRSBØL, Mads DEN 18:20
14 332 CAVUSLU, Yunus Emre TUR 18:21
15 335 TAN, Muhammet Emin TUR 18:21
16 347 VYKHOPEN, Yuriy UKR 18:27
17 127 SHAW, Mark GBR 18:27
18 149 REHBERG, Stig GER 18:27
19 256 ROLIM, Emanuel POR 18:27
20 192 GERRATANA, Giuseppe ITA 18:29
21 100 BEDRANI, Djilali FRA 18:29
22 148 PFEIFFER, Hendrik GER 18:29
23 307 MAKEVIC, DuSan SRB 18:30
24 175 BYRNE, Jake IRL 18:32
25 124 GOODWIN, Jack GBR 18:33
TEAM POSITIONS:
1. GB 30pts
2. Russia 40pts
3. France 103pts
4. Ukraine 109pts
5. Belgium 118pts
6. Denmark 120pts
7. Germany 127pts
8. Spain 134pts
9. Portugal 152pts
10. Turkey 177pts
11. Netherlands 179pts
12. Republic of Ireland 218pts
13. Norway 241pts
14. Poland 250pts
15. Italy 262pts
16. Slovenia 267pts
17. Serbia 300pts
18. Hungary 327pts
19. Romania 349pts
Overall medal table can be downloaded below:
european_cross_country_champs_2011_medal_table.doc | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | doc |
EAA immediate post race flash interviews:
Richard Goodman 'Gold would have been amazing but silver for me is almost as if I´d won. I still have another year in this race as a junior. I feel that I´ve done it justice today. I ran a smart race and didn´t get pushed around'.
Niall Fleming 'Just being in the GB team and soaking up the atmosphere at this level was a really positive experience for me but the race exceeded all my expectations and I'm delighted to have finished 4th GB scorer while the team Gold is just unbelievable'
Geoff Williams After such a difficult year for us both and then the complications caused by the premature return from altitude due to iron deficiency I am delighted with Richard's Silver medal. After the big front run at Liverpool we realised that there was much more to come and our final preparations were spot on. The Russian was awesomely strong but this was a Championship race performance by Rich - thank goodness he got the tactics spot on. It was great to see Niall right up there and back to the levels he achieved in 2009 - great credit to Mick Woods.
European Athletics report: Ilgizar Safiulin of Russia made his strength tell in a final pulsating 500m just holding off a determined charge from Britain’s Richard Goodman to take gold. In third place was another Russian, Vladimir
Nikitin. After the initial rush Russians were already to the fore and packing strongly. Before the first of the 1500m laps was covered in 4:37 there were four Russians in the top six. But with 20 athletes within two seconds at this stage, it was hardly a clear picture. Britain was also packing well at this stage, led by Jonny Hay with eventual silver medallist, Goodman in 11th.
In the team race Russia was momentarily enjoying crushing superiority with 48 points to Britain’s
112. But that was to be reversed before the finish line was reached.
Safiulin was leading as he was to do for most of the race, accompanied by teammates Vitaliy Moiseyev and Nikitin. At 3000m in 9:08, Safiulin was still forcing the pace with Andrey Rusakov replacing Moiseyev in the top three.
Into the third lap, Hay and Goodman were making serious incursions into the Russian hegemony.
At the bell there was a group of seven to determine the title, three Russians, two Britons and France’s Romain
Collenet-Spiret. Slightly detached was Portugal’s Rui Pinto. Up the hill for the final time Safiulin made another effort with Goodman determined to give no quarter as the three medallists became clear. With 500m to go it was between the three of them and Goodman briefly went into a lead, but the tall Russian’s strength proved decisive as he kicked again to hold on to win by two seconds.
Britain retained the team race with 30 points, 19 ahead of Russia with France on 100.
EAA REVIEW OF CHAMPS .........
Belgium's Atelaw Bekele was in a class of his own while winning his first senior men's title at the SPAR
European Cross Country Championships in Velenjon Sunday.
They have done it before in recent years, but Great Britain demonstrated its dominance of the European cross country by winning a total of 12 medals, two of them gold to set the benchmark for the rest of the continent.
At the SPAR European Cross Country Championships held for the second time in Velenje, Slovenia, Sunday December 11, the British team all won medals, except for the unfortunate Emily Wicks who failed to finish the Senior Women’s race after suffering chest pains which saw her hospitalised.
Those 12 medals mean that Britain now has a total of 92 from the 18 editions celebrated which puts them well clear of rance and Portugal, both tied on 59 with French on a superior tally of gold medals, 20 to Portugal’s 19.
If there is one area that needs work, though, it is in the senior men’s department where the absence of Mo Farah was keenly felt. The team still won silver, but their first counter, Andy Vernon, only just crept into the top ten.
Belgian men had won two junior individual gold medals before, one of them in Velenje 1999.
But this fine old cross country nation of yesteryear could hardly have expected the margin of victory enjoyed by Atelaw Bekele who romped away with the title in a manner reminiscent of the great Gaston Roelants.
It was a shock for Bekele who only expected to figure in the top 15, but it was the shock for the rest of Europe who could only sit back and hope he blew up.
One of France’s latest gold medals came courtesy of the hugely talented Florian Carvalho who has progressed inexorably through the ranks.
Fionnuala Britton became only the second Irish woman afterCatherina McKiernan to win the SPAR European Cross
Country Championships in Velenje.
Gold and silver as a junior, then fourth two years ago and a silver in the Under-23 category last year, Carvalho eclipsed that with a superlative display to take gold to add to his equally impressive gold on the track at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava.
The ease with which he surged away up the hill on the final lap to open up a significant gap was evidence of a quality no one else could match. If anyone embodies the value of this type of competition to the growing athlete, it is the young Frenchman who is surely destined for greater things.
There was a heart-warming win for Ireland’s Fionnuala Britton who had missed out on a medal by a whisker in
Portugal last year.
Not since Catherina McKiernan lifted the title in the very first championships in Alnwick 1994 has the Emerald Isle struck individual gold, but it was all the sweeter for that.
Norway is not often seen on the medals’ board, either, but they notched up a team gold in the Under-23 Men’s event, led by Sondre Norstad Moen, who also claimed individual bronze. Norway's team title in the men's under-23 category was one of thsurprises of Velenje 2011.
Moen won Under-23 track 10,000m honours in Ostrava in the summer and also took European Junior Cross Country silver three years ago. Norway’s only individual gold in the history of the championships came two years ago with Karoline Grøvdal’s triumph in the junior race. But Moen and his sidekick, Sindre Buraas, who clinched U-23 5,000m gold in the summer, could be around for a few years yet to remind us that Norway is not only about cross country skiing.
For such a strong country historically, Spain suffered something of a slump in Velenje. While there were great hopes for Ayad Lamdassem to go one better than last year’s silver, there was nothing anyone could do to match the surprise that came out of Belgium. Bekele was simply in a class of his own.
The Spanish senior men’s squad also repeated their bronze medal from Albufeira, but two medals seemed small beer indeed for one of the continent’s historically strong nations.
Great Britain and NI dominated the championships claiming a totaof 12 medals on Sunday. If there was one shock over the whole weekend it was that of nine-time winner, Serhiy Lebid. In the Saturday press conference he had been suitably reticent about his chances, citing heavy snowfall interrupting his training. It was assumed this was becoming modesty from a giant of European cross country. As it turned out, his assessment was spot-on. Struggling to hold a place in the top-20 in the early stages, he eventually dropped out and the forecast face-off between himself and last year’s silver medallist, Lamdassem, failed to materialise. Lebid’s demise was to the benefit of the event, however. All sport thrives on surprises and the senior men’s race provided it in abundance.
There were some intriguing names in the results. One of the women with most appearances in the history of the event is Olivera Jevtic whose tally reached 12 in Velenje. The Serb has the distinction of finishing third no fewer than five times, one of those occasions coming in Velenje 1999. This time round, now 34, she had her lowest placing ever of 21. Just above Jevtic in 16th was Sabrina Mockenhaupt, 31, who lifted silver in 2005. Like Jevtic, the German converted to the marathon for which she is now best known.
Niall Fleming 'Just being in the GB team and soaking up the atmosphere at this level was a really positive experience for me but the race exceeded all my expectations and I'm delighted to have finished 4th GB scorer while the team Gold is just unbelievable'
Geoff Williams After such a difficult year for us both and then the complications caused by the premature return from altitude due to iron deficiency I am delighted with Richard's Silver medal. After the big front run at Liverpool we realised that there was much more to come and our final preparations were spot on. The Russian was awesomely strong but this was a Championship race performance by Rich - thank goodness he got the tactics spot on. It was great to see Niall right up there and back to the levels he achieved in 2009 - great credit to Mick Woods.
European Athletics report: Ilgizar Safiulin of Russia made his strength tell in a final pulsating 500m just holding off a determined charge from Britain’s Richard Goodman to take gold. In third place was another Russian, Vladimir
Nikitin. After the initial rush Russians were already to the fore and packing strongly. Before the first of the 1500m laps was covered in 4:37 there were four Russians in the top six. But with 20 athletes within two seconds at this stage, it was hardly a clear picture. Britain was also packing well at this stage, led by Jonny Hay with eventual silver medallist, Goodman in 11th.
In the team race Russia was momentarily enjoying crushing superiority with 48 points to Britain’s
112. But that was to be reversed before the finish line was reached.
Safiulin was leading as he was to do for most of the race, accompanied by teammates Vitaliy Moiseyev and Nikitin. At 3000m in 9:08, Safiulin was still forcing the pace with Andrey Rusakov replacing Moiseyev in the top three.
Into the third lap, Hay and Goodman were making serious incursions into the Russian hegemony.
At the bell there was a group of seven to determine the title, three Russians, two Britons and France’s Romain
Collenet-Spiret. Slightly detached was Portugal’s Rui Pinto. Up the hill for the final time Safiulin made another effort with Goodman determined to give no quarter as the three medallists became clear. With 500m to go it was between the three of them and Goodman briefly went into a lead, but the tall Russian’s strength proved decisive as he kicked again to hold on to win by two seconds.
Britain retained the team race with 30 points, 19 ahead of Russia with France on 100.
EAA REVIEW OF CHAMPS .........
Belgium's Atelaw Bekele was in a class of his own while winning his first senior men's title at the SPAR
European Cross Country Championships in Velenjon Sunday.
They have done it before in recent years, but Great Britain demonstrated its dominance of the European cross country by winning a total of 12 medals, two of them gold to set the benchmark for the rest of the continent.
At the SPAR European Cross Country Championships held for the second time in Velenje, Slovenia, Sunday December 11, the British team all won medals, except for the unfortunate Emily Wicks who failed to finish the Senior Women’s race after suffering chest pains which saw her hospitalised.
Those 12 medals mean that Britain now has a total of 92 from the 18 editions celebrated which puts them well clear of rance and Portugal, both tied on 59 with French on a superior tally of gold medals, 20 to Portugal’s 19.
If there is one area that needs work, though, it is in the senior men’s department where the absence of Mo Farah was keenly felt. The team still won silver, but their first counter, Andy Vernon, only just crept into the top ten.
Belgian men had won two junior individual gold medals before, one of them in Velenje 1999.
But this fine old cross country nation of yesteryear could hardly have expected the margin of victory enjoyed by Atelaw Bekele who romped away with the title in a manner reminiscent of the great Gaston Roelants.
It was a shock for Bekele who only expected to figure in the top 15, but it was the shock for the rest of Europe who could only sit back and hope he blew up.
One of France’s latest gold medals came courtesy of the hugely talented Florian Carvalho who has progressed inexorably through the ranks.
Fionnuala Britton became only the second Irish woman afterCatherina McKiernan to win the SPAR European Cross
Country Championships in Velenje.
Gold and silver as a junior, then fourth two years ago and a silver in the Under-23 category last year, Carvalho eclipsed that with a superlative display to take gold to add to his equally impressive gold on the track at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava.
The ease with which he surged away up the hill on the final lap to open up a significant gap was evidence of a quality no one else could match. If anyone embodies the value of this type of competition to the growing athlete, it is the young Frenchman who is surely destined for greater things.
There was a heart-warming win for Ireland’s Fionnuala Britton who had missed out on a medal by a whisker in
Portugal last year.
Not since Catherina McKiernan lifted the title in the very first championships in Alnwick 1994 has the Emerald Isle struck individual gold, but it was all the sweeter for that.
Norway is not often seen on the medals’ board, either, but they notched up a team gold in the Under-23 Men’s event, led by Sondre Norstad Moen, who also claimed individual bronze. Norway's team title in the men's under-23 category was one of thsurprises of Velenje 2011.
Moen won Under-23 track 10,000m honours in Ostrava in the summer and also took European Junior Cross Country silver three years ago. Norway’s only individual gold in the history of the championships came two years ago with Karoline Grøvdal’s triumph in the junior race. But Moen and his sidekick, Sindre Buraas, who clinched U-23 5,000m gold in the summer, could be around for a few years yet to remind us that Norway is not only about cross country skiing.
For such a strong country historically, Spain suffered something of a slump in Velenje. While there were great hopes for Ayad Lamdassem to go one better than last year’s silver, there was nothing anyone could do to match the surprise that came out of Belgium. Bekele was simply in a class of his own.
The Spanish senior men’s squad also repeated their bronze medal from Albufeira, but two medals seemed small beer indeed for one of the continent’s historically strong nations.
Great Britain and NI dominated the championships claiming a totaof 12 medals on Sunday. If there was one shock over the whole weekend it was that of nine-time winner, Serhiy Lebid. In the Saturday press conference he had been suitably reticent about his chances, citing heavy snowfall interrupting his training. It was assumed this was becoming modesty from a giant of European cross country. As it turned out, his assessment was spot-on. Struggling to hold a place in the top-20 in the early stages, he eventually dropped out and the forecast face-off between himself and last year’s silver medallist, Lamdassem, failed to materialise. Lebid’s demise was to the benefit of the event, however. All sport thrives on surprises and the senior men’s race provided it in abundance.
There were some intriguing names in the results. One of the women with most appearances in the history of the event is Olivera Jevtic whose tally reached 12 in Velenje. The Serb has the distinction of finishing third no fewer than five times, one of those occasions coming in Velenje 1999. This time round, now 34, she had her lowest placing ever of 21. Just above Jevtic in 16th was Sabrina Mockenhaupt, 31, who lifted silver in 2005. Like Jevtic, the German converted to the marathon for which she is now best known.