PRESS RELEASE

04 March 2007

Day 3: Field events highlights

Italian Assunta Legnante (Italy) was the first medal winner of Day Three, throwing 18.92m with her third round effort to win the women’s shot put.

“To be the first Italian woman to win a shot put gold medal is great. I was not sure that I would win today but I knew that I was in good shape. All the other main contenders are at the same level so I didn’t fear any one. I would have liked to have broken the national record but you can't have everything,” she said.

Russia’s Irina Khudoroshkina moved from fourth to second with her fifth round 18.50m to close the gap between Legnante and the rest of the field but fouled her final attempt in a bid to grab the gold. Khudoroshkina was disappointed that her efforts were not enough to win gold: “This was not a good result for me. The winter is not my best time. I am only performing at 60 or 70 percent of my best at the moment.”

After bronze two years ago, Spain’s Carlota Castrejana struck gold in the women’s triple jump in style with a new Spanish record of 14.64, the leading jump in the world this year. Silver went to Russia’s Olesya Bufalova while bronze went to France’s Teresa Nzola. “You won't believe how happy I feel at this moment,” said Castrejana. “That was more than I hoped for. I hoped to jump well but to get a national record and to win a gold - it is beyond my expectation.”

The former basketball player in the 1992 Olympics, now 33, came into these championships with a mere 14.00m as a season’s best, but there was always the suspicion that she would raise her game in an intense competitive atmosphere.

Bufalova set a personal best of 14.50m to take silver: “I am very happy! To come here and jump a PB is just fantastic,” she said. “I never expected to get a silver medal but I am overjoyed.”

France’s Teresa Nzola, who had come to Birmingham with a mere 13.97m best launched herself to an incredible PB and French record of 14.49m, propelling her into the bronze medal position. She was equally ecstatic: I do not know how I jumped like that. I am so, so proud. This was more than I could have hoped for. It is hard to describe the way I feel. I am very emotional at the moment.”

It was a Russian 1-2 in the women’s pole vault. Svetlana Feofanova cleared a season’s best of 4.76m to take gold, with team-mate Yuliya Golubchikova five centimetres behind in the silver medal position. Anna Rogowska (POL) was third.

Feofanova said: “That was a very good day. I’m so happy to get the gold medal.”

Golubchikova, the Russian champion, could not rise to the challenge and failed with all three attempts at 4.76m meaning Feofanova recaptured the title she won five years ago in Vienna.

Rogowska, who took the bronze with a 4.66m clearance, said: ”I have not had much training or competition because of an injury, so to get a medal at a European Championship is very good. I am below what I should be jumping so I am a little disappointed. I will be looking to improve on my PB during this year and come back stronger.”

Italy’s Andrew Howe added European indoor gold to his outdoor title in the men’s long jump, with Louis Tsatoumas (GRE) taking silver and Salim Sdiri (FRA) in bronze.

“It was incredible to win like that,” said Howe. “I had almost no preparation and my jumps were a mess. I couldn't hit the boards, and I was losing 20 or 30cm just because I couldn't get the run up right. I can't wait for the outdoor season. This just shows what I'm capable of.”

It took its time, but the event came alight in round five when Howe finally showed his class with a leap of 8.30, a national record and European lead.