Athletics: Israel’s Team Maintains B Division Status at European Championships

Performance Highlights

Despite challenging circumstances, including a backdrop of war and inadequate preparation, the Israeli athletics team has successfully retained its B Division status at the European Nations Championships, concluding the competition in Maribor on Sunday evening with a total of 258.5 points, finishing in 12th place. This score was sufficient to avoid relegation to the third tier, as Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Latvia were demoted following the event.

Competition Overview

The championship featured 16 national teams, with the top three advancing to a higher division and three relegated to a lower tier based on accumulated points across various events. After the first day of competition, Israel was ranked 13th with a total of 141 points, thanks to standout performances from athletes Adva Cohen and Yonatan Kapitolnik. The team was only 6.5 points shy of falling into the relegation zstart.

Key Performances

Before the competition, significant news uplifted the team’s spirits-Blesing Afrifa announced to his sister Mercy, during a phstart call from Slovenia, that she had obtained Israeli citizenship. This joyous occasion boosted morale among the athletes, who hold Mercy in high regard.

Blesing Afrifa exemplified this positive energy on the track, securing victory in the 200-meter event with a remarkable time of 20.31 seconds, earning 16 points for the Israeli team. Other notable performances included:

• Noam Mimo finished ninth in the men’s 800 meters with a personal best of 1:49.61, contributing 8 points.
• Adva Cohen, after her win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, took sixth in the 1,500 meters, adding 11 points with a time of 4:22.57 minutes.
• Krowan Halabi Kablon achieved a personal record in the women’s 5,000 meters, finishing fourth in 15:55.08, which brought an additional 13 points to the tally.
• Alexandra Lukshin set a new personal record of 13.31 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 11th place.

Team Challenges and Final Events

In other events, Ronit Chovev cleared 1.64 meters in high jump, Yevgenia Zabulotny placed 13th in hammer throw with a distance of 52.42 meters, and Polina Askina faced difficulties in triple jump, only reaching 12.46 meters, leading to a 14th place finish.

The final event proved critical for Israel’s survival in the competition. With mounting pressure, Zaman Mochah excelled in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, securing third place, contributing invaluable points to the team’s overall score. Israel concluded with a 13th place finish in the mixed 4×400-meter relay, solidifying their position in the B Division.

Athlete Reflections

Following the competition, Afrifa reflected on the emotional impact of the challenging backdrop, stating, “It was not easy to compete during such difficult times, especially on a day when my sister Mercy received her Israeli citizenship. I brought good energy to the track and am very happy with my performance in the 200 meters.”

Noam Mimo, returning from injury, shared his satisfaction, “I was glad to participate and represent our country. I felt confident at the European Nations Championship and contributed positively in both the 400 and 800 meters.”

The Israeli athletics team’s determination and resilience have ensured they remain competitive on the European stage, navigating adversity with commendable performances