Greek track shows increased depth
The opening two days of the European Athletics Championships have proven that Greek track and field is deeper than ever and getting ready to play a predominant role at the Athens 2004 Olympics. In previous years, the absence of an athlete like Costas Gatsioudis, twice a medalist (silver and bronze) at World Championships would have spelt the end of Greece’s hopes. It is still a keenly felt absence, but there are so many others left to steal the spotlight that in the end it risks being a mere footnote. Gold medalist Katerina Thanou did actually benefit from some absences herself. Ukrainian Zhanna Pintusevic, potentially her strongest challenger and France’s Christine Arron, who has run faster than Thanou, have faded from the scene. With the cast of present sprinters, Thanou’s win was, barring accidents, on the cards. The success of Katerina Vongoli was less expected: Everyone thought that Anastassia Kelesidou would top the Greek trio. But the presence of three Greek discus throwers among the 12 finalists was nothing new. It had happened at the Sydney Olympics, in 2000, and at the World Championships last year. This year, for added measure, there were two more candidates who had made the qualifying distance for the Europeans. For the first time, a trial was held, with yesterday’s sixth-placed finisher, Areti Abatzi, displacing stalwart Stella Tsikouna. Never before has Greece placed two men in the 100 meters’ final. If Panayiotis Sarris had not been injured in the qualifier, it could have placed three. This year, another first for Greek track events had been expected: two women reaching a long-jump final. It was not to be. Niki Xanthou, the winner at the Indoors European Championships was once again haunted by her habit of overstepping the line. However, young Stella Pilatou made up for her absence with a creditable sixth place, with a 6.58-meter jump. This was Alexandros Papadimitriou’s happiest day. The burly hammer-thrower barely made the top eight after the first three throws but, with a fifth throw of 80.21 meters, a season’s best, he earned a bronze medal, ending years of frustrating failure.
