Obikwelu Wins Euro 100

Obikwelu storms to 100m triumph

Obikwelu was the class of the field
Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu was crowned European 100m champion after blitzing the rest of the field in Gothenburg.
Obikwelu, the Olympic silver medallist, was last out of the blocks but came through in fine style to take gold in a championship best 9.99 seconds.

Russia’s Andrey Yepishin took silver with Slovenia’s Matic Osovnikar third.

Britain’s Mark Lewis-Francis took fifth in 10.16 while Dwain Chambers, who had won European gold four years ago, trailed home seventh in 10.24.

Highlights: European athletics men’s 100m

Obikwelu inherited Chambers’ European title after the Briton was stripped of gold

“Now I have my own 100 metres European gold medal,” said Obikwelu.

"After the silver in Munich, I wanted this gold in Gothenburg badly. In my head, it is still the silver medal that I won in Munich.

“I feel on top of the world. This is a great day for me - I’ve been working four years for this.”

Lewis-Francis, whose time was his season’s best, was phlegmatic in defeat.

He said: "I’m not happy with that - I came here to get a medal.

"But a season’s best at the major champs - I can’t ask for more than that.

“It’s coming, but it’s coming too late. Improvements are coming out slowly - you’ll see the best of me next year.”

Chambers struggled through to the final by coming fourth in his heat and was never in contention in the final

Poor British sprinters - I guess they’ll get some good bashing by the me media now…and by MJ of course :wink:

Great performance by Obikwelu 9.99 after such a bad start - with a decent start he would have been surely0.1 faster.

Sidenote: The commentators said except for Obikwelu it was such a slow, weak final.
Probably, but Euro finals have never been faster. Not only Gold was run in CR, silver and bronze were the fastest since the wind-aided final of 90.

A little history:

Year…1982…1986…1990…1994…1998…2002…2006
Gold…10.21…10.15…10.00w…10.14…10.04…10.06…9.99
Silver…10.25…10.20…10.04w…10.20…10.10…10.15…10.10
Bronze…10.28…10.21…10.07w…10.31…10.17…10.27…10.15

Good job AUT: shows the value of historical perspective.

Watch highlights and live coverage on:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/5256536.stm

You can watch live coverage as well as highlights on the BBC website.

Martin to the rescue. :slight_smile: What a decent bunch of members there are here, posting for the benefit of everyone. :cool: