2nd July 2009 03:05
The Germans, led by stars such as high jumper Ariane Friedrich, were crowned European Team Champions in Leiria, Portugal, claiming the gold medal ahead of silver medallists Russia and bronze medallists Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The European Athletics league table - the first of its kind - ranks Member Federations' national teams solely on their points performance at the annual European Team Championships.
Men's and women's teams competed as one national team for the first time this year at the European Team Championships as part of a revamp of the European Cup.
The SPAR-sponsored Super League in Leiria saw the top 12 teams in Europe compete, with Czech Republic, Portugal, and Sweden being relegated to the First League for 2010.
The 12-team First League in Bergen, Norway, saw Belarus, Finland and Norway promoted, with Switzerland and Serbia relegated.
Lithuania and Ireland were promoted from the eight-team Second League, with Bulgaria and Cyprus relegated. Israel and Moldova were promoted from the Third League.
European Athletics national team rankings
1. Germany (Gold medallists and SPAR European Team Championships winners)
2. Russia (Silver medallists)
3. Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Bronze medallists)
4. France
5. Poland
6. Italy
7. Ukraine
8. Spain
9. Greece
10. Czech Republic (r)
11. Portugal (r)
12. Sweden (r)
13. Belarus (p)
14. Finland (p)
15. Norway (p)
16. Netherlands
17. Belgium
18. Türkiye
19. Romania
20. Hungary
21. Slovenia
22. Estonia
23. Switzerland (r)
24. Serbia (r)
25. Lithuania (p)
26. Ireland (p)
27. Latvia
28. Austria
29. Slovakia
30. Croatia
31. Bulgaria (r)
32. Cyprus (r)
33. Israel (p)
34. Moldova (p)
35. Denmark
36. Bosnia and Herzegovina
37. Azerbaijan
38. Iceland
39. Luxembourg
40. Armenia
41. Georgia
42. Montenegro
43. Andorra
44. Athletic Association of Small States of Europe (Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino in 2009)
45. Macedonia