Russian women dominate again in European Cup

Germany's Christina Obergfoell set a European record in the javelin but nothing could stop Russia's women maintaining their customary pre-eminence on day one of the European Cup yesterday.

Russia have been European champions in the women's event for the last 10 years and at the close of the first day of the two-day final at a warm and windy Olympic Stadium in Munich they had a commanding lead with 71 points.

France were second on 54, with Germany third on 53.5 and Poland fourth just another half-point back.

Germany were leading the men's table with 64 points after wins in the high jump and shot put. Defending champions France were on 59 points in second, with Poland third on 55.

Yuliya Pechonkina set the Russian women on their way by running the fastest 400 metres hurdles in the world this year.

Pechonkina, the world champion and world record holder, clocked 54.04 seconds to finish well ahead of Anna Jesien of Poland and Germany's Ulrike Urbansky.

Aside from Pechonkina's blistering run, the other outstanding performance came from Obergfoell, who managed 70.20 metres with her second throw to extend her European record by 17 cm.

"It was a big disappointment to finish out of the medals at the European Championships last summer so I want to get back on the podium at the worlds in Osaka," Obergfoell told reporters.

In the men's competition, Eike Onnen got the home crowd cheering early as he won the high jump with a leap of 2.30 metres, before Peter Sack took the shot put with 20.28 metres.

France's good position came after victories for Mehdi Baala in the 1500 metres and Leslie Djhone in the 400. "I expected to win," Baala told reporters after he held off Britain's Andy Baddeley to win in a slow 3 minutes 47.36 seconds. "The time wasn't very fast but that's not important."

Britain's Craig Pickering scored an encouraging comeback win in the 100 metres, recovering from a terrible start to win comfortably in 10.15 seconds, a personal best.

"I ran an amazing time," Pickering told reporters. "Now I'm looking forward to the world championships. I want to be in the final there."

Pickering also helped Britain to victory in the 4x100 relay, the day's final event.

Tyson Gay won the 100 metres in the year's fastest time, 9.84 seconds, at the US championships yesterday. With a blazing final 50 metres and a strong start, Gay won the race by an impressive 0.23 seconds, the largest margin of victory in a US championships 100 metres since electronic timing began in 1975. Trindon Holliday finished second in 10.07 seconds and collegiate champion Walter Dix was third in 10.09.