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Russia women retain title
05.03.2006
Russia retained the trophy they won two years ago at the European Athletics Indoor Cup in Liévin on Sunday as they dominated the results with 69 points. It was not quite the overwhelming performance they had produced in 2004, with wins in eight of the nine events. Still, with five wins and two second places, the Russians’ margin ahead of the 53 points amassed by the second place team from Poland was a clear indicator of superiority.
Triple Jump
Oksana Rogova (RUS) had only one fair jump, but her second round 14.08 was enough to take the win. Mariana Solomon (ROM), also with only one legal jump, took second at 14.04 as only two competitors were able to surpass 14 metres.
3000m
Yekaterina Volkova (RUS), the steeplechase silver medallist in Helsinki last summer, sped away from the field after only 600 metres had passed, but her anticipated win in 8:59.70 was not a walkover.
400m
Through the luck of the lane draw, event favourite Tatyana Veshkurova (RUS) was assigned to lane six, and from this advantageous starting spot she easily achieved the lead position at the midway point. Unchallenged by the others in the first heat, Veshkurova easily won her race in 51.67 and ended with the best time overall. Chasing the Russian and ending with a national record of 52.45 was Monika Bejnar (POL), as Ionela Tirlea-Manolache (ROM) finished with 53.08, eventually taking fourth in the combined results.
Veshkurova’s main challenger, Claudia Hoffmann (GER), also converted a lane six start into a 200m lead to easily win the second heat in 52.69. However, her time fell short of surpassing the time of the Russian and the Pole, and she finished third overall. Liliya Lobanova (UKR), with a PB 53.52 took second in the heat but fifth in the overall placings.
800m
It took Svetlana Cherkasova (RUS) 150 metres to find the lead, and even then, the favourite could not pry Maria Cioncan (ROM) loose. The pair ran tightly until Cherkasova appeared to put on her final kick with 250 left.
Cioncan moved back onto the Russian’s shoulder as the pair entered the final curve and over the last 50 metres the Romanian sped to an unexpected win in 2:02.21. Ewelina Setowska (POL) never lost sight of the leading duo and sprinted past the fading Russian for second in a PB 2:02.58, as Cherkasova’s 2:02.78 netted third place for the Russian team.
1500m
Olga Komyagina (RUS) bolted to the front right from the gun and never looked back in her powerful 4:10.23 win. Already with a 30 metre advantage halfway through the race, the 32-year-old had entered the final lap before the others had entered the penultimate straight.
Just before the bell sounded, Anna Jakubczak (POL) sprinted away from the others and closed the gap on Komyagina somewhat with her second place 4:13.23, a personal best. Natalya Tobias (UKR) with 4:15.39 and reigning European Indoor champion Elena Iagar (ROM) at 4:17.22 took the third and fourth places.
60m
It was not a textbook start for Christine Arron (FRA), but within 30 metres she had an insurmountable lead on the way to her 7.16 win. Fast starting Olga Khalandyreva (RUS), running on Arron’s immediate left, profited by the pacing as she easily took second in 7.29.
Relay
The Russian team of Irina Vashentseva, Mariya Dryakhlova, Tatyana Firova and Natalya Ivanova led from start to finish in the 800-600-400-200 relay, finishing unchallenged with 4:47.48, just off the 4:46.14 clocking they achieved two years ago in their previous team win.
The Romanian team, buoyed especially by the 600m contribution of Angela Morosanu, finished second with 4:49.96, as the 4:50.96 by the Polish quartet easily fended off the fourth place performance of 4:52.28 by France.
By Ed Gordon
Team Results
1. Russia, 69 points
2. Poland, 53
3. Romania, 46
4. France, 41
5. Germany, 37
6. Ukraine, 33
7. Spain, 31
8. Sweden, 21
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