It was a day two full of action at the European Masters Athletics Championships in the province of Venice, Italy. Despite the challenging weather conditions, with intermittent rain and quite strong wind, a lot of finals proved to be particularly exciting. In men’s 100m Great Britain took four gold medals in Jesolo, as physician Steve Peters won another title in M65 age group against headwind, while also fellow sprinters John Wright (M60), Donald Brown (M55) and Jonathan Browne (M35) managed to get on the top of the podium.
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Women’s finals in Caorle were highlighted by the anticipated W65 clash between Caroline Powell and Joylyn Saunders-Mullins, both in UK vest, with the former able to get a win in 15.09 (-0.4). And there was more success for Rietje Dijkman. The Dutchwoman set a new W80 European record at 100m in 17.56 (+0.4), just a day after the triple jump world mark. A great display of form was showed by Arild Busterud of Norway, M70 hammer champion with 55.57, and the versatile Austrian Marianne Maier, gold in W75 heptathlon scoring 6484 points.
Home favourite Barbara Lah, World triple jump finalist, is now W45 European champion, and M85 thrower Carmelo Rado, multiple world record holder, proved once again to be the best in hammer. In the meanwhile, Eraclea hosted the first of race walking events with 5000m on the track where among the others Marie-Astrid Monmessin of France prevailed in W60 competition.
Luca Cassai – photos by Alfred Hermes