The first ever European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven on 12-13 April introduced a new country ranking competition, enabling recreational runners score for their country alongside elite athletes.
The new concept meant the top 25 male and female runners from each country in the 10km, half marathon and marathon races would have their times counting towards a combined team time as part of the international competition.
It meant that mass participants could be part of the same team as some of Europe’s top runners, for example, Italian female runners in the 10km could have their results counting alongside four-times European champion Nadia Battocletti.
European nations respond in masses to new concept
With a huge response from the home country’s runners, Belgium topped the country rankings in all six competitions.
But runners from France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Serbia, Ireland, Denmark and Norway all contributed by finishing as one of the top 25 from their country. In total, 1325 runners were included in the country ranking competition.
The concept is unique feature of the European Running Championships and gives recreational runners an additional incentive to be truly part of a European Athletics event.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics