CHORZOW, Poland (June 20) — Romania’s Andrea Miklós delivered a remarkable performance in the women’s 400 meters on Day 1 of the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships in Division 2, setting a new personal best time of 50.67 seconds. Her outstanding performance has set the tone for the rest of the championships, positioning her strongly even against some of the Division 1 athletes who will compete later this week.
Miklós entered the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships with a previous lifetime best of 52.07 seconds, which she achieved in 2018. However, she significantly improved that mark, currently ranking fifth on the European 400m list for 2023.
“I was hoping to complete this race under 52 seconds, but I haven´t expected such great time, I was injured for two years,” a delighted Miklós said. “This result means a lot to me as I can be here again on big stage. I´m just very grateful and I can not fully express my happiness right now.”
As the 2016 4x400m World Indoor bronze medalist, Miklós made a swift start in the race, taking command of the event at the 250m mark and exhibiting immense strength to secure a new lifetime best time. – Read more: Azerbaijan’s Hanna Skydan wins Hammer with 71.69: European Athletics Team Championships 2023 – DIV 3
Claiming a distant second place was Lithuania’s Modesta Justė Morauskaitė, who attained the runner-up spot across both heats with a season-best time of 51.61 seconds. Hungary’s Janka Molnár clinched third place with an impressive time of 51.74 seconds, simultaneously setting a new National U23 Record.
“I’m very pleased with this race,” said Morauskaitė. “It was my first of the season and I was just thinking about execution, not really setting any specific time goals for myself. It felt good to be back to racing and feel the lactic acid again.”
Among other notable performances were Slovenia’s Anita Horvat (51.80), a prominent 800m star, and Gunta Vaicule (52.12) from Latvia, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, and achieving their season’s best times.
Bulgaria’s Deva-Mariya Dragieva, who topped the field in Heat B, completed the event in eighth place overall, clocking a personal best time of 53.36 seconds.
In the team standings, after 8 out of 37 events, Hungary leads with 117 points, followed by Ukraine with 91 points and Romania with 86 points. The competition will remain fiercely contested, with forthcoming events promising more thrilling performances.
Women’s 400m – Div 2 at the 3rd European Games held on 20th June 2023:
- Andrea Miklós (ROU) – Time: 50.67 (Personal Best)
- Modesta Justė Morauskaitė (LTU) – Time: 51.61 (Season Best)
- Janka Molnár (HUN) – Time: 51.74 (National U23 Record)
- Anita Horvat (SLO) – Time: 51.80 (Season Best)
- Gunta Vaicule (LAT) – Time: 52.12 (Season Best)
- Kateryna Karpuk (UKR) – Time: 52.45 (Season Best)
- Veronika Drljacic (CRO) – Time: 52.97 (Personal Best)
- Deva-Mariya Dragieva (BUL) – Time: 53.36 (Personal Best)
- Maja Ciric (SRB) – Time: 53.69 (Season Best)
- Alexandra Bezeková (SVK) – Time: 53.85 (Season Best)
- Kalliopi Kountouri (CYP) – Time: 54.13 (Personal Best)
- Viola Hambidge (EST) – Time: 55.22 (Personal Best)
- Fanny Arendt (LUX) – Time: 56.39 (Season Best)
- Tatiana Contrebut (MDA) – Time: 56.76 (Personal Best)
- Ingibjörg Sigurdardóttir (ISL) – Time: 58.52
- Anna Obakke Lange (DEN) – Time: 1:03.63
