Britain's Church and Poland's Slocka win the Multistars

Lewis Church from Great Britain and Julia Slocka from Poland were the winners at the 38th edition of the Multistarsmeeting at the Gabre Gabric Stadium in Brescia.

• RESULTS

Church improved his decathlon PB to 8067 points beating 2024 world indoor champion, 2025 European indoor silver medallist Simon Ehammer (7899) and Antoine Ferranti (7885). Nino Portmann from Switzerland finished fourth with 7705 ahead of Marcus Nilsson (7674) and Andrea Cerrato (7643).

Slocka scored 5840 points in the women’s heptathlon narrowly missing her lifetime best of 5891 set at last year’s edition of the Multistars.  

Simon Ehammer won the 110 metres hurdles setting the fourth fastest time in the history of the Multistars with the best technical performace of the meeting of 14.01 into a strong headwind of -1.9 m/s ahead of Fred Isaac Fleurissonfrom Germany (14.63) and  Antoine Ferranti (14.82) in one of his favourite events to take the lead in the overall standings with 5064 points. Ehammer, overtook overnight leader Lewis Church, who won the second heat in 14.65 into a headwind of -1.9 m/. Church ranked second with 5009 points after six events ahead of Ferranti (4906) and Fleurisson (4886) and Nino Portmann from Switzerland (4884).

Joni Heikkinen from Finland won the javelin throw with his best mark of 47.22m in her second attempt ahead of Sweden’s Markus Nilsson (46.64m), Portmann (46.35m) and Church (45.57m). Ehammer threw the discus o 41.54m Church regained the overall lead with 5788 points ahead of Ehammer (5760) and Portmann (5679).   

Italian decathlete Lorenzo Naidon cleared 5.05m on his first attempt to win the pole vault. Ehammer opened his pole vault competition with a first-time clearance of 4.85m before failing two attempts at 4.95m and one at 5.05m. Nilsson needed three attempts to clear 4.85m. Ferranti and Lorenzo Modugno cleared 4.75m.

With two events to go Ehammer led with 6625 with a gap of 33 points over Church, who cleared 4.65m. Ferranti ranked third with 6504 ahead of Naidon (6374).

Church improved his PB to 60.59m to finish second in the javelin throw behind Jon Fragiacomo from Italy, who threw to 66.14m. The British athlete moved into top position with 7311 points. Ehammer came close to his PB with 55.87m. Ferranti ranked third with 7095 ahead of Portmann (7077) and Cerrato (6974).

Ferranti crossed the finish-line first in the 1500 metres in a PB of 4:23.23 ahead of Modugno (4:24.54). Church clocked 4:28.23 to end the decathlon with 8067 points his first score over the 8000 points barrier.

Church smashed his previous PB of 7852 points set in 2024becoming the first British decathlete to win at the Multistars since 1989. The only British man in the history of the Multistars was Alex Kruger in 1989. Church improved four PBs in the 100, 400m, long jump and javelin throw. 

“I did not expect to win, but as the competition went on, I thought I had a chance. I am pleased with all running events and in the javelin throw. Italy is my favourite place to compete by a mile”, said Church.

Women’s heptathlon:

Carmen Nowicka from Poland, who was born in 2005, won the long jump with a wind-assisted 6.20m (+2.6 m/s). Betty Marie Jensen from Denmark leapt to 6.17m. Overnight leader Vilma Italinna from Finland jumped a wind-assisted 6.04m (+2.1 m/s) to hold on to her lead in the overall standings with 4350 points ahead of Jensen (4307) and Liana Trumpi (4274). 

Karle Schaerfe from Denmark won the javelin throw with 49.51m. Julia Slocka finished second with 43.78m. 

Schaerfe climbed to first place in the overall standings after the javelin with 4987 points ahead of Liana Trumpi (4928) and Julia Slocka (4926). Italinna dropped to fourth with 4920 after her best throw of 34.93m.

Slocka won the 800 metres in a lifetime best of 2:13.50 to clinch the win with 5840 points. Jensen crossed the finish-line in 2:14.31 ahead of Trumpi (2:14.91). Trumpimaintained her second place with 5822 ahead of Jensen (5818) and Schaerfe (5740). 

“I did not expect to win after the first day. I am pleased with my PBs in the high jump and in the 800 metres. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this meeting. I met very nice people. I am planning to compete at the Polish Championships next June”, said Julia Slocka.