Hosts Russia are leading the way after the opening day of the European Athletics Team Championships in Cheboksary – and the spirit of the competition lives on amid two moments of smiles and delight on a thrilling afternoon.
Valentin Smirnov and Denis Kudryavtsev both banked maximum points for Russia to set the noise levels rising from the home crowd who saw their nation gradually climb up the table.
The 1500m really was a tale of the unexpected as Smirnov regained the form that saw him become the World Student Games champion in 2013.
Few could have expected it with 80m left at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium, with a blanket finish developing, but then, through the bunch of leaders, came Smirnov to triumph.
By the end of the day, the competition was really hotting up with Russia ahead by just five points with 186 from defending champions Germany with 181 and France in third with 175.5. Sweden, in 10th on 102, Finland, with 89, and Norway, bottom with 60, are in the relegation spots for now.
But whatever happens on Sunday, and when memories go back to this weekend, Smirnov’s win will be among those that stand out.
The team essence was in full flow as Smirnov celebrated his superb win in 3:52.03 from Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski in 3:52.06 and Great Britain’s Oli Aitchison in 3:52.33.
As an ecstatic Smirnov punched the air, fellow Russian Yekaterina Koneva waved a flag in his honour. Then Russia’s head coach Yuriy Borzakovskiy dashed down the steps of the stands to his man, his right hand raised in celebration, his beaming face telling the story.
The whole spirit of the Russian team had been raised by this performance and Smirnov said: 'I am very happy. The opponents were tough but I won. I got the 12 points for the team - it is really important.'
As the sun shone, and the wind played difficulties with the sprints, it was a memorable afternoon here in Cheboksary with Kudryavtsev, the bronze medallist from last year’s European Athletics Championships in Zurich, winning the 400m hurdles in a championship record of 48.66 as he beat Poland’s Patryk Dobek in 49.04 and Italy’s Leonardo Capotosti in 49.93, with all three men running personal best times.
Russia had three more winners as they looked to regain the trophy they last won in Gateshead in 2013, with victories for Koneva in the triple jump with 14.98m, world champion Aleksandr Menkov, on countback in the long jump from France’s Kafetien Gomis with 8.26m, and Daniyll Tsyplakov in the high jump with a personal best of 2.33m.
And as Koneva said: 'I want to thank all the spectators for the support - we can feel you.”
Germany battle back and survive relay disqualification
Germany are second at this halfway stage and closing in on Russia.
It was proving a good afternoon for them before it looked like they would score no points in the men's 4x100m relay, the final event, after they were disqualified.
But then they were re-instated and with just the five points between them and the hosts, it could be so close on Sunday.
It was some day, though, for German pole vaulter Silke Spiegelburg, who equalled the championship record by clearing 4.75m and was clenching her fists as she came bouncing down onto the mat, yelping with delight.
Germany also had winners in the men’s shot put with David Storl with 21.20m and Gesa-Felicitas Krause in the 3000m steeplechase in 9:46.49 before Christina Obergföll returned to competition after becoming a mum to win this title for the fifth time as she took the javelin with 61.69m. No athlete has won more in the history of the European Athletics Team Championships Super League than her.
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Along with Kudryavtsev and Spiegelburg, the championship record books also needed rewriting in the men’s hammer as Poland’s world champion Pawel Fajdek launched a brilliant throw of 81.64m in the second round to triumph and in the two 4x100m relays, as Ukraine won the women’s in 42.50 and Britain took the men’s in 38.21.
Asha Philip gave Great Britain 12 points in the 100m as they became the early leaders in Cheboksary as she won the opening event in 11.27.
Her British teammate Richard Kilty could not match that success in what then became a good start for France as Christophe Lemaitre was quickest from the two 100m men’s races in 10.26.
France added another maximum points as Renelle Lamote made her mark from the front in the 800m while Melina Robert-Michon won the discus in 62.24m.
Then came the women’s 400m which brought another 12 points for the French as European No. 1 Floria Guei confirmed her fine start to the season by winning in 51.55.
By this sixth event, France led with 65 from Germany with 59 and Poland with 58, a position they strengthened after the men’s 5000m which Mourad Amdouni won in 14:04.63.
It was after 13 events that Russia were in the lead for the first time with 117 points from France with 115.5, Britain with 107 and Germany with 103.
Now was the time they needed something special and they duly gained it in Kudryavtsev and Smirnov. Their timing was just perfect.
STANDINGS (after 21 of the 40 events)
1 RUSSIA – 186
2 GERMANY – 181
3 FRANCE - 175.5
4 GREAT BRITAIN & NI – 166.5
5 POLAND – 153
6 UKRAINE – 150.5
7 ITALY – 143
8 SPAIN – 123.5
9 BELARUS – 108
10 SWEDEN – 101
11 FINLAND – 88
12 NORWAY - 60