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European Cup First and Second Leagues: Preview |
This weekend (17-18 June), close to 2000 athletes will be competing across the continent in the European Cup First and Second League matches, with the ultimate prize being promotion to next year's SPAR European Cup.
Eight men's and eight women's teams will contest the First League Group A match in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Group B match in Thessaloniki, Greece.
First League Group A: Prague, Czech Republic
Hosts Czech Republic, who were relegated from the SPAR European Cup last year, and Sweden, who were only two points away from promotion in 2005, are likely to be the two men's teams in contention in Prague for the first prize of competing in the SPAR European Cup next year.
Sweden's team includes 2006 world indoor pole vault silver medallist Alhaji Jeng and high jump bronze medallist Linus Thörnblad, and Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year in 2003 and 2004 Christian Olsson
The javelin will be one of the highlights in Prague, pitting Norway's in-form Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen against Estonia's reigning world champion Andrus Värnik. Throws of over 90 metres, which will improve on the Cup best performance mark, which currently stands at 89.92 metres to Russia's Sergey Makarov, are certainly not out of the question.
Belgium will boost one of the stars of the women's match in the shape of sprinter Kim Gevaert. She is the reigning European indoor 60m champion and comfortably won the 100m and 200m in Belgium's First League match last year.
However, the women's team competition is likely to be a tussle between Belarus, the Czech Republic and Italy, with the throws probably being among the most critical events to decide the match winner.
First League Group B: Thessaloniki, Greece
The Greek men's team, who missed out returning to the SPAR European Cup by just four points last year, are hoping that their usually enthusiastic home supporters will help bridge that small gap this year. Their team includes Periklis Iakovákis, who last month ran a national record of 47.82 seconds to make him the fastest European this year, and 2003 SPAR European Cup long jump winner Loúis Tsátoumas.
However, Portugal and the Netherlands are unlikely to let the hosts run away with the men's match.
Portugal's Francis Obikwelu won the 100m and 200m last year and will be expected to perform the same feat again. His compatriot Rui Silva, better known as a 1500m runner, stepped up and took the 3000m in front of his home crowd in 2005 and this year will run the same distance again.
The Netherlands' Simon Vroeman, the European 3000m steeplechase record holder, was an impressive winner last year and is fit again after several injury setbacks during the winter. The Dutch also have reigning pole vault world champion Rens Blom and world shot put silver medallist Rutger Smith in their team.
Greece could be on course for a double success in Thessaloniki with their women, relegated from the SPAR European Cup last year, also fielding a formidable team, including the 2004 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Faní Halkiá and Olympic triple jump silver medallist Hrisopiyí Devetzí.
Greece's strongest challengers are likely to be Portugal, who have 2005 European indoor long jump gold medallist Naide Gomes and 1996 Olympic 10000m champion Fernanda Ribeiro in their team, and neighbours Bulgaria who have been second in First League matches on three occasions in the last decade.
Second League
Eight men's and eight women's teams will compete in the Second League Group A match in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.
The men's competition looks likely to be a contest between Denmark, who just missed out on promotion in 2004 and 2005, host nation Slovakia and Ireland.
On the women's side, Croatia will be looking to make an immediate return to the First League after getting relegated last year and have former world and European junior high jump champion Blanka Vlasic, who also took the 2006 world indoor silver medal, in their squad. The only nation likely to be able to keep pace with Croatia is Slovakia.
Eleven national men's teams and ten national women's teams plus a team representing the Athletic Association of the Small States of Europe compete in the Second League Group B match in Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro.
Bulgaria's men have fallen far from their peak of 15 years ago when they contested the 1991 SPAR European Cup, but if their athletes perform up to expectations in Novi Sad then they should take one step back up the ladder. Host nation Serbia and Montenegro are likely to be Bulgaria's closest rivals.
Cyprus' women surprised many people by just finishing two points away from promotion last year and the Mediterranean island could easily make its debut in the First League next year if they can repeat their consistent performances again. Serbia and Montenegro, like their male counterparts, should also be in the hunt for promotion.
More information about the European Cup First and Second Leagues, including full previews and entry lists is available at http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?inhalt=events/ec12_06/ec12_06&nav=nav/events
The 2006 SPAR European Cup takes place in Malaga, Spain, on 28-29 June.
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