Szabo deprived of European Gold by Ayhan

GABRIELA SZABO has Olympic and world championships gold medals but she was again deprived of European gold in Munich yesterday when Sureyya Ayhan of Turkey led all the way to win the women’s 1,500m title and break the national record for a fifth time, crossing the line in 3:58.79.

As in her semi-final heat when Ireland’s Geraldine Hendricken tried to stay with her, the 23-year-old Turk sprinted clear at the gun and opened up a 10 metre lead with Szabo, caught by surprise, back in sixth place.

After the leader passed 400m in 60.14, Szabo raced up into third place behind the Spaniard Nuria Fernandez and the Romanian was perfectly poised in second place when a 66.41 lap took them 800m in 2:06.55.