The Netherlands Triumphs in Mixed Relay on Day 1 of Apeldoorn 2025
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The 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn kicked off with thrilling performances, dramatic finishes, and standout displays of athletic excellence. The opening day saw a historic victory for the Netherlands in the mixed 4x400m relay, while top contenders in hurdles, middle-distance, jumps, and pole vault made strong statements in their respective events. With record-breaking heats, dominant qualifiers, and fierce battles on the track and in the field, the stage is set for an electrifying championship weekend.
World 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol anchored the Dutch team to gold in the mixed 4x400m relay, clocking 3:15.63 ahead of Belgium (3:16.19) and Great Britain (3:16.49). The first final of the 2025 European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn delighted the 5,000 home fans packed into the Omnisport Arena.
Bol secured the gold medal in a 4x400m relay for the Netherlands at a major championship. World indoor 4x400m bronze medallist Nick Smidt handed over to Eveline Saalberg in the lead, but Saalberg yielded the advantage to Belgium’s Imke Vervaet. Meanwhile, Emily Newman moved Great Britain into silver-medal position.
Tony Van Diepen ran a solid third leg before passing the baton to Bol. Helene Ponette briefly led ahead of Bol, but the Dutch star surged past her on the final back straight to claim victory. This marked Bol’s tenth European gold medal—indoor or outdoor.
Sharlene Mawdsley recorded the fastest women’s split in the mixed relay with 49.93, ahead of Bol’s 50.33.
Femke Bol: "Winning gold is amazing. I am so proud of our team for performing so well today. If this was just the first night and first gold, I’m excited for what’s to come. With a crowd like this, it doesn’t feel like just training, even though it’s our home track. Of course, you have to run smart, especially since it was my first race. I felt a bit more uncertain than usual, but with this amazing team around me, I knew we could achieve great things. I heard the crowd when Nick overtook, and I thought, ‘Wow, they are loud!’ I won’t be doing much in the next few days—probably just relaxing in the hotel bath and cheering on my teammates."
Women’s 60m Hurdles Heats:
The heats saw eight athletes dip under the 8-second barrier. Pia Skrzyszowska set the fastest time of the round, winning the third heat in 7.88. Italian champion Giada Carmassi finished second, improving her PB to 7.98, while Germany’s Marlene Meier placed third in 8.01.
Two-time European indoor champion Nadine Visser of the Netherlands won the first heat in 7.89.
Nadine Visser: "I wouldn’t say I got emotional at the start, but the crowd had an impact on me. A national record would be great, and I think it will be needed to win."
Reigning European indoor champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland claimed the second heat in 7.92, the third-fastest overall time. Rosina Schneider also dipped under 8 seconds, clocking 7.98.
Sarah Lavin of Ireland (7.93) and French indoor champion Laeticia Bapté (7.97) advanced comfortably from the fourth heat. Karin Strametz took third in 7.99.
Men’s 60m Hurdles Heats:
France’s Wilhelm Belocian, the 2021 European indoor champion, led the qualifiers with 7.46—the fastest-ever time in a European Indoor Championships heat.
His compatriot Just Kwaou-Mathey clocked 7.47, the second-fastest heat time in championship history, ahead of defending champion Jason Joseph (7.56). Jakub Szymanski won the fourth heat in 7.51, while European outdoor champion Lorenzo Simonelli placed fourth in the second heat (7.66), advancing on time.
Belgium’s Elie Bacari equalled the national record with a European U23 record of 7.51.
Men’s 1500m Heats:
World indoor record-holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen began his bid for a third consecutive 1500m/3000m European indoor double by winning his heat in 3:37.49, closing with a 55.19-second final lap—the fastest first-round time in championship history. A double gold in Apeldoorn would see Ingebrigtsen equal Valery Borzov’s record of seven European indoor titles.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen: "This championship is all about medals. I don’t expect crazy times, but the finals will be competitive. We’ll see what happens tomorrow."
Portugal’s Isaac Nader won the second heat in 3:42.32, ahead of France’s Paul Anselmini (3:42.47).
Great Britain’s Neil Gourley took the third heat in 3:40.24, edging European bronze medallist Azzedine Habz (3:40.43).
Women’s 1500m Heats:
Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell led all qualifiers with 4:11.40, winning the second heat ahead of European bronze medallist Agathe Guillemot of France (4:11.52). Bell increased her pace with a 66-second penultimate lap before closing in 60 seconds.
Spain’s Esther Guerrero, fourth in both the 2023 European Indoors and the 2024 European Outdoors, won the third heat in 4:14.21.
Berenice Cleyet-Merle (France) and Weronika Lizakowska (Poland) clocked identical times of 4:13.51 to advance.
Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying Round:
European outdoor champion Angelica Moser of Switzerland cleared 4.55m to advance to the final. She will be joined by Tina Sutej, Amalie Svabikova, Elina Lampela, Roberta Bruni, Ellen Veekemans, and Marie-Julie Bonnin, who all cleared the same height. Elisa Molinarolo qualified with 4.45m.
Men’s Long Jump Qualifying Round:
Portugal’s Gerson Baldé led the qualifiers with 8.11m. His compatriot Jaime Guerra recorded 8.07m, the second-best mark. Thobias Montler and Bozhidar Sarabouykov also exceeded 8.00m. Olympic bronze medallist Mattia Furlani advanced with 7.95m in the first round.
Women’s Triple Jump Qualifying Round:
European outdoor champion Ana Peleteiro Compaoré set the best mark with 14.14m, ahead of defending European indoor champion Tugba Danizmas of Turkey (14.10m). Peleteiro Compaoré leads the European indoor rankings with her 14.33m jump at the Spanish Indoor Championships.
Men’s High Jump Qualifying Round:
Italy’s Manuel Lando progressed flawlessly, clearing 2.13m, 2.18m, and 2.28m on his first attempts. World leader Oleg Doroshchuk (Ukraine) and U20 silver medallist Matteo Sioli (Italy) shared second place at 2.23m. Yonathan Kapitolnik, who cleared 2.31m in January, failed to qualify after three misses at 2.18m.
