European Championships Munich 2022: Richard Ringer and Aleksandra Lisowska take marathon thrillers

There was joy for the hosts in a dramatic finish to the men’s marathon on day one of the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich on Monday (15 August).

Israel's Maru Teferi looked to have a decisive lead with 200m to go, but Germany's Richard Ringer - a bronze medallist over 5000m in 2016 - showed that track speed to surge into the lead and take gold in a time of 2:10.21.

A stunned Teferi came home second ahead of fellow Ethiopian-born teammate Gashau Ayale.

Earlier, Aleksandra Lisowska took the first gold of the competition in the women's marathon.

The Pole crossed the line in 2:28:36, six seconds ahead of Matea Parlov Kostro of Croatia with Dutch runner Nienke Brinkman just denying home favourite Miriam Dattke the bronze.

Close marathon finishes in Munich

After a crowded lead pack, the men’s marathon was reduced to a race of six at the 40km.

Teferi appeared to have the race at his mercy with German Amanal Petros well placed for silver.

But it was all change in the home stretch as Ringer, who was 26th in the Tokyo 2020 marathon last year, sprinted to victory from the two Israelis with Petros finishing fourth.

The women’s was wide open until the last 5km when Dattke, in just her second marathon having made her debut in Seville in February, injected pace and whittled the lead group down to eight runners.

But Lisowska, 35th in the Olympic marathon last year, made an attack of her own and came clear to secure her first major career triumph.

Parlov Kostro took silver with Dattke just missing out on the medals behind Brinkman.

Israel Olatunde and Delphine Nkansa lead qualifiers in the men’s and women’s 100m

Israel Olatunde of Ireland was the quickest man in the 100m heats with most of the big names receiving byes to the semi-finals.

Olatunde clocked 10.19 in heat three with Slovakia’s Jan Volko next fastest best in a season's best 10.22.

Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs is in Munich seeking his second major title of the season after his world indoor 60m success back in Belgrade in March.

The fastest man in Europe skipped the World Championships but his coach Paolo Camossi confirmed he’s in Munich “to win” and will compete in the short sprint and the 4x100m relay.

Belgian Delphine Nkansa posted the fastest qualifying times in the women’s 100m in 11.33 with Spain's Jael Bestue next best in 11.39.

Like the men's, the big names received byes through to Tuesday's semi-finals with the finals taking place later that night.

Ehammer leads decathlon after Mayer exit

Simon Ehammer has a healthy lead in the men's decathlon after world champion Kevin Mayer pulled up injured in the opening event, the 100m.

The Frenchman had told Olympics.com in the lead-up that he was unsure his body would meet the challenge and so it proved as he was seen clutching his thigh in the latter stages.

Switzerland's world long jump bronze medallist Ehammer was two-tenths quicker than the rest of the field with 10.56 the 100m. And he extended his lead 8.31m in his specialist event, a championship best in the decathlon.

That was 75cm further than anyone else, and a shot put measurement of 14.24m leaves him on a total of 2845 points although he does have weaker disciplines to come.

Italy's Dario Dester is second on 2591 with Poland's Pawel Wiesiolek third (2563). There are two more events on Monday.

Serbia's Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist Armin Sinancevic was the top best qualifier in the men's shot put with a season's best of 21.82m. Czech Tomas Stanek was second on 21.39m.

Portugal's world indoor champion Auriole Dongmo led the qualifiers in the women's shot with 19.32m.

World bronze medallist Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands was next best with 18.95m. Both shot finals take place on Monday evening.