Belarus, Norway and Finland bounced back to Super League status on a rainy day at the Kadriorg stadium during the European Athletics Team Championships First League in Tallinn, Estonia.
Despite achieving more first places, six against four, Norway finally had to bow to Belarus’ overall strength in depth including the final event of the day, the men’s 4x400m, when they crossed the line 0.08 behind their rivals for top spot.
The score was tight at the end – 302.5 to 300 – with Finland safe in third on 290.5. Slovenia and Hungary are relegated to the Second League.
That final event produced a traditional humdinger as the Borlée trio, Jonathan, Kevin and Dylan led off by Julien Watrin held off a determined effort by an Irish quartet that included 400m hurdles individual winner Thomas Barr.
The outstanding result for Belarus arguably came on Day One when Maryna Arzamasava ran the fastest 800m of the four leagues in 2:00.95 with an impressive solo run from the front.
But it was also on Day One that Norway laid down an important base with eye-catching wins for sprinters, Ezinne Ekparaebo and Jaysuma Saidy Ndure. Ndure returned on Day Two to clinch the 200m in 20.70.
He was a surprise 1500m winner at the European Athletics Championships two years ago, but Henrik Ingebrigtsen is now an established star who is expected to win handsomely.
Instead of competing in his favourite event, the Norwegian opted for double the distance and duly won with his trademark withering sprint in 8:16.00 presenting his team with a maximum 12 points.
Compatriot Ingvill Makestad Bovim completed a satisfactory weekend by adding a win in the 1500m to her second place in the 800m from Saturday.
Isabella Pedersen got the Norwegian cause off to a good start with a fine win into a headwind in the 100m hurdles with 13.18 in atrocious conditions defeating favourite Elline Berings of Belgium into third.
Shortly after though, any advantage Pedersen may have gained for her team was cancelled out when in the hammer Mona Holm Solberg failed to register a single valid throw. The event was won by Romania’s Bianca Perie on a slippery circle in a season’s best 71.93m.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Hungary’s Baji Balasz gave his squad a much needed lift with a fine win over Greece’s Kostadinos Douvalides in 13.51.
As expected Ireland’s Mark English had a comfortable win in the 800m. Second at the bell, English eased into the lead in the back straight and extended his lead to the finish. Compatriot Paul Robinson had won the 1500m the day before making it a middle distance double for Ireland.
Greece’s Maria Belibasaki was delighted with her win in the 200m as she improved her personal best to 23.12.
It was an unhappy homecoming for former world and Olympic champion Gerd Kanter in the discus. Lithuanian Andrius Gudrius won the event in 61.92m with Kanter managing no better than third in 61.33m.
There was a battle of attrition in the women’s 5000m between Portugal’s Ana Dulce Félix and Ireland’s Fionnuala Britton with the European 10,000m champion forging away on the final lap to cross the line in 15:21.32.
The Irishwoman never gave up the chase as is her habit and was rewarded with the third best time of her career in 15:23.37.
The expected threat from Belgium’s Almensch Belete failed to materialise as she lost touch with the leaders at the half-way mark to finish fifth.
ETCH 1st League final standings - Tallinn
1. Belarus 302.5 (p)
2. Norway 300.0 (p)
3. Finland 290.5 (p)
4. Romania 281.5
5. Greece 276.5
6. Estonia 275.5
7. Ireland 253.5
8. Portugal 251.5
9. Belgium 251.0
10. Lithuania 227.0
11. Slovenia 209.5 (r)
12. Hungary 191.0 (r)