FLORENCE, June 18: Russian athletes turned in a series of strong performances to take the lead in the men’s and women’s European Cup after the first day. The Russian women’s good start at the Luigi Ridolfi stadium on Friday was no surprise as they have won the title for eight years in a row. After four events they topped the standings on 27 points, two more than Romania and six ahead of Germany.

The Russian men’s team, however, were a revelation, pushing their claim for a first European Cup title since 1993.

With 24 points from four events, Russia lead Poland by 1-1/2 points and are 3-1/2 ahead of defending champions Germany, whose disappointing evening began in the hammer event.

Markus Esser was brimming with confidence after a personal best of 80 metres in Leichlingen this month but the German had to settle for third behind former world and Olympic champion Szymon Ziolkowski of Poland and Russia’s Ilya Konovalov.

Ziolkowski’s winning effort of 79.14 was his best this year and a great confidence booster ahead of the world championships in Helsinki in August.

Russia picked up maximum points in the high jump, which was won by Aleksey Dmitrik with a leap of 2.30 metres.

Spain are fourth with 20 points thanks largely to the success of their middle-distance runners.

Juan Carlos De La Ossa confirmed his streak of good form by running a solitary race to win the 5,000 metres in 13 minutes 30.97 seconds.

The Spaniard, who ran 13:10.58 in Seville this month to become the fastest European in 2005, pulled out a 40m lead midway through the race before easing off in the last lap to finish comfortably ahead of Bouabdellah Tahri of France.

Spain also claimed victory in the 3000m steeplechase, Antonio David Jimenez taking advantage of an awkward last hurdle to pip Poland’s Radoslaw Poplawski to the line.

In the women’s competition, Russia picked up the first points of the night when Liliya Shobukhova pulled clear of her rivals on the penultimate lap to cruise to victory in the 5,000 metres in 15 minutes 01.15 seconds.

Another Russian, Irina Simagina, won the long jump with a leap of 6.76 metres, more than 30 cms ahead of home favourite Fiona May in second.

Their compatriot Oksana Tuchak could only manage fifth in the discus, which was won by Germany’s Franka Dietzsch with her first throw of 64.38.

Super League women results:

Team Points 1. Russia 27 2. Romania 25 3. Germany 21 3. Poland 21 5. Ukraine 17 6. Italy 15 7. France 11 8. Greece 7

5000m Women 1. Liliya Shobukhova (Russia) 15:01.15 2. Wioletta Janowska (Poland) 15:08.38 3. Mihaela Botezan (Romania) 15:13.36

3000m Steeplechase Women 1. Cristina Casandra (Romania) 9:35.95 2. Lyubov Ivanova (Russia) 9:46.63 3. Justyna Bak (Poland) 9:51.51

Long Jump Women 1. Irina Simagina (Russia) 6.76 2. Fiona May (Italy) 6.43 3. Adina Anton (Romania) 6.35

Discus Throw Women 1. Franka Dietzsch (Germany) 64.38 2. Yelena Antonova (Ukraine) 62.59 3. Marzena Wysocka (Poland) 62.28.—Agencies