5,039 athletes from 61 countries registered to compete in the 21st European Masters Athletics Championships held in Jesolo, Caorle and Eraclea, Italy from 5 September through 15 September. 18 countries from other continents including Canada, Chile, Cameroon, Egypt, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and United States. Results are here and in World Rankings.

Exceptional Performances

Rietje Dijkman, W80 NED, rewrote the record books in setting World Records in 400m, Long Jump and Triple Jump and a European Record in 100m (17.56). Reitje ran 1:29.84 to better Emma Mazzenga’s (ITA) 1:31.21 400m record from 2013, jumped 3.45m to tie Christiane Schmalbruch (GER) mark from 2017 and 7.37m to edge Christiane’s 2017 mark.

More World Records:

Rado Carmelo, M85 ITA, threw Discus 35.92m to extend his 35.09m from 2018.
Leo Saarinen, M90 FIN, put the Shot 9.89m to surpass fellow Fin, Toimi Ahvenjärvi’s 9.73 in 2011.
Jouni Tenhu, M80 FIN, threw Javelin 45.85m besting Lothar Huchthausen’s (GER) 42.72m in 2015.
Tatjana Schilling, W45 GER, scored 6082pts to edge Marie Kay’s (AUS) ten year old mark of 6002.
4 x 400m relay records were broken by the M85 team from Germany Edi Bscheid, Herbert E. Müller, Armin Zosel and Friedrich Ingenrieth in 7:23.31 and the W55 team from Great Britain and Northern Ireland of Julie Rogers, Christine Anthony, Janice Ellacott and Virginia Mitchell in 4:27.33.

Caroline Powell, W65 GBR, set European Records in 200m (30.55) and 400m (1:08.67) and teamed with Caroline Marler, Rosalind Tabor and Joylyn Saunders-Mullins to top the 4 x 400m record (5:00.12). Other European Records were set by Bruno Baggia, M85 ITA, 1500m (7:06.03) and 5000m (24:50.08); Silvia Bolognesi, W65 ITA, Half Marathon (1h32:51); Petra Herrmann, W60 GER, Pole Vault (2.83) and Triple Jump (10.31); Anne Kirstine Jensen, W65 DEN, Javelin (33.39); Angelo Squadrone, M90 ITA, Half Marathon (3h12:14); Danuta Woszczek, W40, POL, 2000m Steeplechase (7:00.02); and Anne-Kathrin Eriksen, Vroni Lay, Helgard Houben, Hannelore Venn, W75 GER, 4 x 100m (1:13.92).

EMA President, Kurt Kaschke, Reflects

“We were strangers when we arrived. Now we leave with new relations, new friends and great memories of some fantastic events!”

Caorle – “Little Venice” – promised to be ready for the championships with a new track – they kept this promise. Athletes could feel the commitment of all the volunteers and judges during the days of the events. The responsibles started early to work, to support, to help and to cheer the athletes up – always with a smile and Mediterranean hospitality.

Eraclea – the friendly city with its beautiful beach invited the athletes to do their best. We are proud to announce that some European records were the result of a good preparation. The city is linked to sport and this spirit was transferred to most of our visitors and athletes.

Jesolo – with Lido di Jesolo – was the center of the event. The atmosphere of the Championships could be felt every moment in the stadium. A fantastic medal ceremony every day, Casa di Jesolo offered different kind of Italian food and drinks. Info point helped the athletes from 61 different countries to find their way.

Good memories will keep Jesolo, Eraclea and Caorle in our mind.