The victories of Esther Guerrero in the 1,500 meters and of Thierry Ndikumwenayo in the 5,000, on the last day of the European athletics by countries in Silesia (Poland), propelled Spain to a historic fourth place in a classification led by Italy, which proclaimed for the first time continental champion.
Italy achieved its first title of European athletics champion by countries by dominating the competition from the first day, achieving a total of 426.5 points and fourteen medals divided into six gold, five silver and three bronze.
Second was Poland, which could not revalidate the victory of the two previous editions and was left with 402.5 points and ten medals, and the third drawer of the podium was occupied by Germany with 387.5 points.
Spain finished fourth, its best historical place in a European team event, and added 352 points, completing a good championship with the outstanding performance of Mohamed Katir and Esther Guerrero in 1,500, Daniel Arce in 3,000 obstacles and Thierry Ndikumwenayo in 5,000, all of them winners. of their respective tests.
“I have felt very good from the beginning. I was going very easily, I got ahead to avoid stumbling, and I am very happy because it is the first time that I have won at an international level, apart from a semifinal”, said the captain of the Spanish delegation Esther Guerrero, after her victory in the final sprint of the 1,500 meters with the Polish Martyna Galant.