2026 European Athletics Championships Day 3 Preview: 400m and Hurdles Titles Headline Wednesday
The 2026 European Athletics Championships continue in Birmingham on Wednesday, August 12, with four titles set to be decided and the men’s decathlon getting underway at Alexander Stadium.
The morning session begins at 10:35 with the opening event of the decathlon, while qualification and preliminary rounds take place in the women’s discus, women’s 400m and women’s 200m. The men’s 800m and 400m hurdles also move into the semifinal stage.
The evening programme brings the major medal action. The women’s hammer throw final begins at 19:45, followed later by the men’s 400m final, women’s 400m hurdles final and men’s 110m hurdles final. The men’s decathlon will also complete its opening day with the 400m at 21:22.
Men’s Decathlon Begins
The men’s decathlon gets underway with the 100m at 10:35 before the athletes move to the long jump at 11:20 and shot put at 12:45.
The competition resumes in the evening with the high jump at 19:05 before the opening day concludes with the 400m at 21:22.
With five events packed into Wednesday’s programme, the first day should begin to establish the contenders before the remaining five disciplines are contested later in the championships.
Women’s Discus Throw – Qualification
The women’s discus qualification begins at 10:40 with Jorinde van Klinken among the biggest names in the field.
The Dutch thrower won silver medals at both the 2025 World Championships and the European Championships in Munich 2022 and Rome 2024. She has taken another major step forward this season, setting a Dutch record of 70.99m.
Germany brings considerable experience through Marike Steinacker, Shanice Craft and Kristin Pudenz, while Sweden’s Vanessa Kamga and veteran French thrower Mélina Robert-Michon are also among the athletes capable of challenging for the final.
Women’s 400m – Round 1
The women’s 400m begins at 11:05 with a deep field featuring several of Europe’s strongest one-lap runners.
Norway’s Henriette Jæger has been one of the standout performers of the season, lowering her national record to 49.15 after already winning Diamond League races in Rome and Oslo.
Portugal’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel has also moved into the European elite, running a national record of 49.37 in Paris, while defending champion Natalia Bukowiecka remains one of the most experienced major championship performers in the field.
The Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver and British pair Yemi Mary John and Amber Anning add further depth to an event that should become increasingly competitive through the rounds.
Women’s 200m – Round 1 and Semifinals
The women’s 200m begins with the opening round at 11:40 before the semifinal stage later in the evening at 20:20.
Amy Hunt is expected to be one of the leading British hopes after winning world silver over 200m in Tokyo and running 22.08 in the semifinal there.
Dina Asher-Smith remains another major contender. The former world champion has extensive championship experience and will look to add another European medal to her collection.
Switzerland’s Timothé Mumenthaler is not in this event, but the women’s field includes several emerging names such as Success Eduan, who won the British title with a personal best of 22.43, and Fabienne Hoenke, who set a Swiss under-23 record of 22.50 this season.
Defending champion Mujinga Kambundji also returns after winning the European title in Rome 2024.
Men’s 800m – Semifinals
The men’s 800m reaches the semifinal stage at 12:20, where qualification for the final should become significantly tougher.
Ireland’s Mark English, Great Britain’s Max Burgin and Ben Pattison, Spain’s Mohammed Attaoui and Italy’s Francesco Pernici entered the championships among the leading medal contenders.
Burgin has already beaten Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi this season with a 1:42.98 victory in Rabat, while English has improved his personal best to 1:42.97.
Attaoui brings proven major championship pedigree, and Pernici has enjoyed a breakthrough year after lowering the long-standing Italian record to 1:43.60.
With only the strongest athletes advancing, the semifinals could produce some of the fastest tactical racing of the championships so far.
Men’s 400m Hurdles – Semifinals
The men’s 400m hurdles moves into the semifinals at 12:55.
Three-time defending champion Karsten Warholm remains the man to beat as he pursues a fourth consecutive European title.
The Norwegian has already run 46.61 this season, but Germany’s Emil Agyekum has closed the gap after breaking Harald Schmid’s historic national record with 47.45.
European silver medallist Alessandro Sibilio, Sweden’s Carl Bengström, France’s Clément Ducos and Spain’s Jesús David Delgado are among the other athletes hoping to secure places in the final.
Women’s Hammer Throw Final
The first title of the evening will be decided in the women’s hammer throw at 19:45.
Finland arrives with two of Europe’s strongest throwers in Krista Tervo and Silja Kosonen. Tervo has set a Finnish record of 77.35m this season, while Kosonen has long been regarded as one of the continent’s leading young throwers.
Defending champion Sara Fantini will attempt to retain the title she won in Rome 2024. The Italian has reached 75.62m this year, only 15 centimetres short of her national record.
Denmark’s Katrina Koch Jacobsen has also improved significantly, setting a national record of 75.52m, while French bronze medallist Rose Loga has thrown 75.19m.
Veteran Anita Włodarczyk adds enormous championship experience to the field, with the Polish legend seeking yet another major medal late in one of the greatest hammer throwing careers in history.
Men’s 110m Hurdles – Semifinals and Final
The men’s 110m hurdles will be decided on Wednesday night after semifinals at 19:55 and the final at 21:47.
Spain’s Enrique Llopis arrives as one of the leading contenders after winning European silver in Rome 2024 with a personal best of 13.16.
Switzerland’s Jason Joseph also brings strong championship pedigree, while France’s Just Kwaou-Mathey has already broken 13 seconds during his career.
Austria’s Enzo Diessl is another athlete capable of challenging the established names after progressing through the junior and under-23 ranks with considerable success.
With the semifinal and final separated by less than two hours, recovery and execution will be crucial.
Men’s Triple Jump – Qualification
The men’s triple jump qualification begins at 20:40 with Olympic medallist Andy Díaz Hernández among the leading names in the competition.
The Italian has enjoyed an outstanding season, setting a national record and world-leading 17.87m at the Italian Championships.
Pedro Pablo Pichardo remains one of the strongest challengers. The Olympic and world champion has already jumped 17.71m this year and knows how to deliver in major championship finals.
Italy also brings Andrea Dallavalle and Simone Biasutti, while France has depth through Melvin Raffin, Jonathan Seremes and Thomas Gogois.
Men’s 400m Final – Kounta Fastest as Hudson-Smith Chases Home Gold
The men’s 400m final at 20:50 shapes up as one of the highlights of Day 3 after a highly competitive semifinal round produced several standout performances.
France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta emerged as the fastest qualifier, storming to a personal best of 44.38 to win the third semifinal ahead of Hungary’s Attila Molnár, who clocked 44.60.
Dutch rising star Jonas Phijffers also made a major statement, winning the opening semifinal in a personal best of 44.63. European record holder Matthew Hudson-Smith followed him home in 44.78 to comfortably secure his place in the final and keep alive British hopes of a home European title.
Germany’s Jean Paul Bredau won the second semifinal in 44.86, with Hungary’s Patrik Simon Enyingi taking the second automatic qualifying position in 45.02.
Belgium’s Daniel Segers and Poland’s Maksymilian Szwed advanced as the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers after running 45.03 and 45.10 respectively.
The final will therefore feature Kounta, Molnár, Phijffers, Hudson-Smith, Bredau, Enyingi, Segers and Szwed.
Kounta's 44.38 semifinal performance makes him an increasingly serious gold-medal threat, while Phijffers also arrives in the final with momentum after producing a lifetime best. Hudson-Smith, however, remains one of the most accomplished athletes in the field and will attempt to reclaim the European title in front of the British crowd.
Women’s 400m Hurdles Final – Couckuyt Leads Tight Field After Semifinals
The women’s 400m hurdles final at 21:08 promises to be one of the most competitive races of Day 3 after the semifinals produced several personal and season bests.
Belgium’s Paulien Couckuyt emerged as the fastest qualifier, producing a personal best of 53.87 to win the third semifinal. Great Britain’s Lina Nielsen also delivered a lifetime best in the same race, clocking 54.04 to take the second automatic qualifying position, while Norway’s Amalie Iuel advanced on time with 54.22.
Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso was another standout performer, winning the opening semifinal in a season’s best of 53.93. British Commonwealth silver medallist Emily Newnham followed in 54.32, while France’s Louise Maraval secured a place in the final as a time qualifier with 54.50.
Pre-championship favourite Emma Zapletalová comfortably progressed by winning the second semifinal in 54.09. The Slovakian, who has run a world-leading national record of 52.30 this season, will remain a major threat when the medals are decided. Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo took second in that semifinal in 54.34.
Only 0.22 seconds separated the four fastest semifinalists, setting up an intriguing final between Couckuyt, Folorunso, Nielsen and Zapletalová, while Iuel, Newnham, Diallo and Maraval complete a deep eight-woman field.
Men’s 110m Hurdles Final Closes Day 3
The final event of the night will be the men’s 110m hurdles final at 21:47.
By that point, the finalists will already have navigated the opening round and semifinals, setting up a direct battle for the European title.
Llopis, Joseph and Kwaou-Mathey appear among the strongest contenders on paper, but the compressed championship schedule leaves little margin for error.
With titles in the women’s hammer throw, men’s 400m, women’s 400m hurdles and men’s 110m hurdles, Day 3 should provide another major night of championship action in Birmingham.
