Monaco hosted the European Challenger Championships (ECC) track and field competition for the first time ever at the Stade Louis-II on 31 May. The new European competition brought together 250 athletes from 17 nations. Cyprus finished top of the team standings, while Monaco had some of the best performances in its history.
“This inaugural Monegasque edition was marked by excellent organization, praised by all the delegations, and by the high quality of the welcome extended to the participants. But beyond the event’s success, the Principality also shone on the track thanks to some outstanding performances from its athletes,” says a recent press release by the Monegasque Athletics Federation, one of the organizers of the event.
Monaco’s results…
Prince Albert II, who is President of the Monegasque Athletics Federation, presented some of the medals to the winners.
The Monegasque team won a grand total of four medals, including two gold. The two first-place finishes were won by Jean Woloch, who was victorious in the pole vault competition, and Lai Yiu Lui, who was crowned champion in the 100-metre hurdles.
Monaco also won two bronze medals. François Ducourant won third place in the 800 metres, and Marie-Charlotte Gastaud distinguished herself in the 400-metre hurdles by securing the Monegasque delegation’s first medal of the day.
“This inaugural podium finish was one of the highlights of the competition, sparking enthusiasm among her teammates and the crowd at the Stade Louis-II,” says the Monegasque Athletics Federation.
Formerly known as the Championships of the Small States of Europe, this first edition of the European Championships in the Principality illustrated the ambition of this revamped competition. The aim of the ECC is to bring together European nations in a demanding sporting environment, while promoting performance, camaraderie, and teamwork.
“Through this successful organization and the results achieved by its athletes,” says the Monegasque Athletics Federation, “Monaco once again confirms its ability to host leading international events and to proudly represent European athletics.”
