European Athletics Championships: Hunt Completes Sprint Double as Čeh Smashes Championship Record

Amy Hunt completed a brilliant sprint double, while Mark English finally captured his first European outdoor title on a dramatic fourth day  (Thursday, August 13) of finals at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Gesa Felicitas Krause claimed her third 3000m steeplechase crown, Angelica Moser soared to pole vault gold, Leo Neugebauer won a closely contested decathlon, and Kristjan Čeh successfully defended his discus title with a championship record.

Hunt completes brilliant sprint double

Amy Hunt confirmed her status as one of the championships’ biggest stars by adding the women’s 200m title to her earlier victory over 100m.

The Briton powered away from a high-quality field to win in a European-leading 22.19 seconds, completing a memorable sprint double on home soil.

Rhasidat Adeleke delivered another outstanding performance for Ireland, setting a national record of 22.28 to claim silver. Two-time former champion Dina Asher-Smith secured another major medal for Great Britain, taking bronze in 22.29.

English finally claims European 800m gold

More than a decade after winning his first European medal, Mark English finally reached the top of the podium in the men’s 800m.

The Irishman remained composed through slow  (53.7) and a tightly packed opening lap before timing his finishing surge perfectly. English came through strongly in the home straight to win in 1:45.26, securing his first European outdoor title after taking bronze in 2014 and 2022.

The victory capped a superb season for the 33-year-old, who lowered the Irish record to 1:42.97 in London last month.

Croatia’s Marino Bloudek took silver in 1:45.62, while 2024 runner-up Mohamed Attaoui earned another European medal for Spain with bronze in 1:45.71.

Neugebauer holds off Kaul for decathlon title

Leo Neugebauer became European decathlon champion after holding off a tremendous final-day challenge from compatriot Niklas Kaul.

The reigning world champion and Olympic silver medallist accumulated 8611 points across the two-day competition, finishing only 38 points ahead of Kaul, the 2022 European champion.

Neugebauer built his advantage through a series of powerful performances, including 17.13m in the shot put, 7.82m in the long jump and 54.31m in the discus. He then did enough in the concluding 1500m to preserve his narrow lead.

Kaul finished with a season’s-best 8573 points to complete a German one-two, while Norway’s Sander Skotheim took bronze with a season’s-best total of 8433.

Jeff Tesselaar produced a fast 1500m and finished fourth with a personal-best 8378 points, narrowly missing the podium.

Derkach produces career-best jump for gold

Dariya Derkach saved her best performance for the fourth round of the women’s triple jump final, soaring to a personal best and European lead of 14.60m.

The Italian had been in control since opening with a wind-assisted 14.53m, but strengthened her grip on the competition when she produced the best legal jump of her career.

Belgium’s Saliyya Guisse secured silver with 14.46m, while Aleksandra Nacheva earned bronze for Bulgaria with a best effort of 14.40m.

Čeh retains discus crown with championship record

Kristjan Čeh successfully defended his European discus title with a dominant performance highlighted by a championship record of 72.51m.

The Slovenian broke the previous championship record twice during the final. He opened with 70.83m before improving dramatically to 72.51m in the third round, putting the competition beyond the reach of his rivals.

World record-holder Mykolas Alekna took silver for Lithuania with 69.89m, while Germany’s Henrik Janssen produced a season’s-best 69.53m to earn bronze.

Three-time world champion Daniel Ståhl finished outside the medals in fourth place with 68.22m.

Čeh arrived in Birmingham as the defending champion and left with another European title—as well as a championship record more than three metres beyond the mark that had stood at the beginning of the evening.

Women's Pole Vault Final

Angelica Moser delivered a perfect performance through 4.80m to capture the European women’s pole vault title.

The Swiss star cleared every height from 4.45m to 4.80m on her first attempt, with her winning clearance matching her season’s best. With the gold medal secured, she raised the bar to 4.85m but was unable to clear it.

Finland’s Wilma Heltelä claimed silver with 4.75m, while France’s Marie-Julie Bonnin completed the podium with 4.70m.

Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final

Gesa Felicitas Krause added another chapter to her remarkable European Championships career by winning a dramatic women’s 3000m steeplechase final in 9:12.69. It is a third European 3000m steeplechase title for Krause, who adds Birmingham 2026 to her previous victories in 2016 and 2018.

Krause, Lea Meyer and defending champion Alice Finot traded the lead during the closing stages before the race changed dramatically at the final water jump. Meyer fell while still firmly in medal contention and, although she recovered quickly, ultimately had to settle for fourth place.

Krause took full advantage, powering clear over the closing metres to secure another European crown. Finot claimed silver for France with a season’s-best 9:14.24, while Germany’s Olivia Gürth completed the podium in a season’s-best 9:15.33.

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