Athletics: Backley's late effort claims glorious gold

Steve Backley claimed his fourth consecutive European javelin title here yesterday after a dramatic fifth-round effort of 88.54 metres proved sufficient to defeat a world-class field that included his old nemesis Jan Zelezny.

It was a sweet moment for the 33-year-old Backley, who has had a magnificent competitive record since taking his first European and Commonwealth titles in 1990 but has all too often found the Czech thrower blocking his path to the most glittering prizes.

Two years ago at the Olympics, Backley thought he had finally cracked it when he took the lead with an Olympic record of 89.85m. Zelezny responded with 90.17m to leave the Briton with his second Olympic silver. This time the glory was all his as he overtook the first round throw of 88.05m by Russia's Sergei Makarov, who leads this year's world standings with the 92.61m he achieved in Sheffield two months ago.

After producing a last effort of 84.76m, Backley studiously put on his track-suit as Makarov prepared to take the last throw of the competition. The spear landed short of the 85m mark, and the Russian stepped over the line. Backley stepped forward to shake his hand warmly, then broke into a broad smile as the force of what he had done registered.

Eight years ago in Helsinki, Backley won the European title against a similarly stellar field, and celebrated with a loping, sideways jog into the throwing arc. Last night that moment of elation was replicated as he made his way to the centre of the stadium once again, thunderously acknowledged by a packed stadium full of home fans who had come to see if the two German throwers, Raymond Hecht and Boris Henry, could gain the special lift they needed to earn medals through sheer weight of expectation. Henry rose to the challenge, taking bronze in 85.33m.

Zelezny was clearly struggling with a leg injury, and missed the cut to the final eight places after nullifying his first three efforts because they were insufficient to satisfy him.

For most of the competition it looked as if the Cambridge Harrier was due to collect a silver behind Makarov. Backley moved into second place with his own first-round effort of 86.29m, and improved to 86.37m in the third round.

Marlon Devonish earned Britain's fifth bronze medal of these championships in a 200 metres which was won in startling fashion by Greece's Olympic champion Konstantinos Kenteris, who crossed the line three metres clear with his left arm raised in triumph, stopping the clock at 19.85sec – a Championship record and the fastest run in the world this year.

Devonish recorded 20.24, 0.03sec behind the silver medallist, Francis Obikwelu, Portugal's adopted Nigerian sprinter. Christian Malcolm – Britain's only other representative in the event following the previous day's disqualification of Darren Campbell for running over his line – produced a season's best of 20.30 in fourth place despite carrying an injury which needed an injection earlier this week.

The 26-year-old Coventry Godiva Harrier deserved another medal in what has been the best season of his career so far, having won both the Commonwealth and European trials and European Cup, and taken a silver behind Frankie Fredericks at the Commonwealth Games.

"Kenteris was miles ahead at the start," Devonish said. "But I was really strong on the home straight, which is my strength anyway. I'll catch Kenteris another time. I steadily improved in my career from Edmonton, but honestly – even though I won the bronze medal I'm still a bit disappointed."

Chris Rawlinson's roller-coaster season ended on a downward run yesterday as he was left distraught and flat on his back after pulling up in pain just three flights of barriers into a 400m hurdles final won by France's former world champion Stéphane Diagana in 47.59sec. By the time the Frenchman finished, the 30-year-old Yorkshireman, who had been receiving treatment for what Max Jones, UK Athletics' performance director, described as "a niggle" behind his right knee, had his hands over his face in disappointment.

His season had begun outstandingly as he beat all of the world's leading hurdlers except the world champion, Felix Sanchez, on the European circuit, but lurched alarmingly when he failed to perform at the European trials and then suffered food poisoning.

Eleven days ago he had recovered sufficiently to take his first major gold medal as he won the Commonwealth title in a time of 49.14. But yesterday proved a challenge too far, although Rawlinson would have had to be close to his best to have earned a medal in a race where Jiri Muzik of the Czech Republic took silver in 48.43, and Pawel Januszewski of Poland the bronze in 48.46.

"I'm not exactly over the moon," Rawlinson said. "I thought I could shake off the injury but I was wrong."

Muriel Hurtis, France's 23-year-old sprinting talent, took another step towards filling the place left by Marie Jose Perec as she won the women's 200m title in 22.43.

Diane Allahgreen equalled her personal best of 12.92 in the 100m hurdles semi-final, but could only place fifth in the final in a time of 13.07 as Glory Alozie, now of Spain, won in 12.73.