Felix was the first European home in fourth place at the ING New York City Marathon in a personal best of 2 hours 25min 40sec on 6 November and then a winner at the 22nd Cross da Amora two weeks later.

Röthlin, the 2010 European Athletics Championships marathon gold medallist, was the first European home in the men's category at the ING New York City Marathon in 2:12:26.

Ireland's Fionnualla Britton, who finished third in a high quality field at the Cross de l´Acier in the French town of Leffrinckoucke on November 27, finished second in the women's poll, closely followed by the Netherlands' Adriënne Herzog, who took the honours at the 53rd International loket.nl Warandeloop in the Dutch city of Tilburg, also on November 27.

In the men's poll, Belgium's Atelaw Bekele, who won the European Athletics Cross Country Permit Race in the Belgian town of Roeselare on November 27, was voted second while the Briton Andy Vernon, an outstanding winner of the senior men's race at the McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge event incorporating the UK Trials for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, finished third.

European Athletics' monthly poll received overwhelming support from thousands of athletics fans and media alike from all over Europe.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe. A male and female winner each month is named and featured on the European Athletics website.

Selections are based on votes by the public, media and a panel of European Athletics experts – each counting for 33.3 per cent of the final vote.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for or win the European Athlete of the Month award.

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