By George Georgakopoulos

Greece came close to seeing one or more of its athletes on the podium of the European Indoor Track and Field Championship in Gothenburg last weekend, but luck was not on the Greeks’ side in Sweden.

Pole-vaulter Costas Filippidis finished fourth in the final of his event after clearing the same height (5.76 meters) as the jumpers who finished second and third but had done so in their second attempt, while Filippidis needed a third one.

Antonis Mastoras beat expectations to finish fourth in the high-jump final clearing 2.29 m., while Costas Baniotis was ninth with 2.19 m.

Louis Tsatoumas reached 8 meters in the long jump, but missed out on a medal in the end as two of his rivals beat him by seven and five centimeters respectively, leaving him in fifth.

Costas Douvalidis did well to reach the final of the 60 m. hurdles, where he finished seventh clocking 7.64 seconds.

None of the Greek women made the final of their event, as even Nicole Kyriakopoulou was below her usual performances in qualifying faring no better than 4.36 in pole vault.