This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/athletics/6166845.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Farah storms to European success | Farah storms to European success |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| European 5,000m silver medallist Mo Farah became only the second Briton to lift the European cross-country men's title with a stunning win in Italy. | European 5,000m silver medallist Mo Farah became only the second Briton to lift the European cross-country men's title with a stunning win in Italy. |
| He hit the front just after the start of the final 1,920m circuit and blazed his way to victory in the 9,950m race. | He hit the front just after the start of the final 1,920m circuit and blazed his way to victory in the 9,950m race. |
| The 23-year-old won by seven seconds in 27mins 56secs from Portugal's Fernando Silva and Spaniard Juan de la Ossa. | The 23-year-old won by seven seconds in 27mins 56secs from Portugal's Fernando Silva and Spaniard Juan de la Ossa. |
| Farah led Britain to fourth place in the team event, with France taking the title from Portugal and Spain. | Farah led Britain to fourth place in the team event, with France taking the title from Portugal and Spain. |
| Interview: European cross-country champion Mo Farah | Interview: European cross-country champion Mo Farah |
| Farah is the first British winner of the event since Jon Brown triumphed in Charleroi in 1996. | Farah is the first British winner of the event since Jon Brown triumphed in Charleroi in 1996. |
| "I felt confident but struggled a little at the start, they were all bunching so I just decided to sit in and wait," said Farah. | "I felt confident but struggled a little at the start, they were all bunching so I just decided to sit in and wait," said Farah. |
| "I've had to work hard for this goal and to achieve this and I spent a month preparing in South Africa." | "I've had to work hard for this goal and to achieve this and I spent a month preparing in South Africa." |
| Ukraine's Sergiy Lebid had won the title for the last five years but was never in contention at San Giorgio su Legnano, near Milan, fading badly to finish 12th. | Ukraine's Sergiy Lebid had won the title for the last five years but was never in contention at San Giorgio su Legnano, near Milan, fading badly to finish 12th. |
| Farah added: "At the bell Lebid didn't do anything, so I followed the other guys then found myself at the front. | Farah added: "At the bell Lebid didn't do anything, so I followed the other guys then found myself at the front. |
| "I thought 'You might as well just push now'." | "I thought 'You might as well just push now'." |
| Hayley Yelling, the 2004 champion, was the best British finisher in the women's race, coming home sixth in 25mins 28secs. | |
| Jo Pavey finished two places behind in 25mins 28secs, saying: "It was too hard for me, I shall have to toughen up." | |
| Ukraine's Tatyana Golovchenko was first in 25:17, edging out Russia's Mariya Konovalova and Serbia's Olivera Jevtic. | |
| Yelling said: "I gave it my best but it was just too hard for me - I shall have toughen up." | |
| There were some encouraging performances amongst the British juniors with Stephanie Twell, 17, winning the individual girls' title over 4,100m. | |
| Emily Pidgeon came fourth, Sian Edwards was sixth with Abby Westley 10th to ensure the team retained their title and scored a fifth in the event's history. |