Speed and power: In this photo taken with a fisheye lens Britain's Jessica Ennis competes in the Women's Long Jump Heptathlon during the European Athletics Championships, in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday. – AP/Matt Dunham
Zivile Balciunaite of Lithuania won the women's marathon at the European Championships, and 50-year-old Merlene Ottey made history as the oldest athlete to compete at the event when she ran in the 4x100 women's relay.
Balciunaite went around the streets of Barcelona in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 14 seconds to earn her first major triumph. Nailya Yulamanova of Russia won silver in 2:32:15 and Anna Incerti of Italy took bronze in 2:32:48.
"I love to run in the heat, it suits me very well," said Balciunaite, who slowly worked her way up the field before taking the lead for good after 30 kilometers. "The circuit helped a lot as well - no hills, no turns, just perfect."
Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, surpassed the age record held by 47-year-old French marathon runner Nicole Brakebusch-Leveque.
"It's right up there with all the medals I have won," said Ottey, who has won 29 medals in major competitions, including seven Olympic Games, starting at Moscow n 1980. "It didn't cross my mind (at 40) that I would still be running now. I thought I would retire."
Ottey returned to Barcelona's Olympic stadium, where she won bronze at the 1992 Games, but Slovenia failed to get out of the heats. Russia advanced as the fastest team.
"It's special (because) I kow I can compete at 50 years old ... it brings me greater joy to compete with people that are younger," Ottey said. "I guess it's my genes, and I like to run, you know."
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