European Athletics Championships Day 6: Mahuchikh, Almgren and Díaz shine as records fall

Records tumbled and titles were decided across a packed sixth day of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, with Andy Díaz Hernández, Andreas Almgren, Henriette Jæger and Yaroslava Mahuchikh among the headline winners.

Díaz Hernández produced a world-leading 18.15m in the triple jump, Almgren delivered a championship record over 10,000m and Jæger smashed the Norwegian record in the women’s 400m. Ireland’s Kate O’Connor also completed a memorable heptathlon victory with a national record, while the morning race walks produced world records for María Pérez and Sofia Fiorini.

Almgren dominates the men’s 10,000m

 delivered one of the outstanding distance performances of the championships, powering to the European 10,000m title in a championship record of 27:23.44.

The Swede broke clear of Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu and continued to extend his advantage, eventually winning by more than 19 seconds. Lobalu secured silver for Switzerland in a season’s best of 27:42.67, while France’s Jimmy Gressier claimed bronze in 28:07.90.

1. Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 27:23.44 CR, SB
2. Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu (SUI) – 27:42.67 SB
3. Jimmy Gressier (FRA) – 28:07.90 SB

Díaz Hernández soars beyond 18 metres

Andy Díaz Hernández produced a huge 18.15m world lead and Italian record to win a high-quality men’s triple jump final.

Díaz Hernández moved into the lead with his second-round effort and remained untouchable. Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo responded with a season’s best of 17.76m but had to settle for silver, while Italy secured a second medal through Andrea Dallavalle, who jumped 17.37m.

1. Andy Díaz Hernández (ITA) – 18.15m WL, NR
2. Pedro Pichardo (POR) – 17.76m SB
3. Andrea Dallavalle (ITA) – 17.37m

Weber unleashes a 90.40m championship record

Germany’s Julian Weber saved his best for the final round of the men’s javelin, launching the implement to a spectacular 90.40m championship record and European lead.

Weber had led from the opening round with 83.71m before becoming the first European to surpass 90 metres this season. Germany celebrated a one-two as 21-year-old Nick Thumm produced an 83.76m personal best for silver.

Latvia’s Patriks Gailums took bronze by the smallest possible margin, throwing 82.97m to edge Poland’s Dawid Wegner by one centimetre and Jakub Vadlejch by nine.

1. Julian Weber (GER) – 90.40m CR, EL
2. Nick Thumm (GER) – 83.76m PB
3. Patriks Gailums (LAT) – 82.97m

Jæger storms to European 400m title in 49.04

Henriette Jæger produced a commanding performance to win the women’s 400m title in a brilliant 49.04 European lead and Norwegian record.

The 23-year-old finished exactly one second ahead of Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka, who clocked 50.04 for silver. Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver completed the podium in 50.15.

1. Henriette Jæger (NOR) – 49.04 EL, NR
2. Natalia Bukowiecka (POL) – 50.04
3. Lieke Klaver (NED) – 50.15

Mahuchikh retains European high jump crown

Yaroslava Mahuchikh added another European title to her collection, clearing 1.97m to win the women’s high jump.

The Ukrainian entered at 1.92m and cleared that height on her first attempt before overcoming 1.95m on her second and 1.97m at the first time of asking. After passing at 1.99m, she made three unsuccessful attempts at 2.01m.

Poland’s Maria Zodzik and Montenegro’s Marija Vuković both cleared 1.95m, with Zodzik taking silver on countback.

1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) – 1.97m
2. Maria Zodzik (POL) – 1.95m
3. Marija Vuković (MNE) – 1.95m

O’Connor wins heptathlon with Irish record

Kate O’Connor completed a superb two-day performance to claim the women’s heptathlon title with an Irish record of 6751 points.

O’Connor entered the concluding 800m with a 51-point advantage and sealed gold by clocking 2:11.74, adding 939 points to her total.

The Netherlands claimed both remaining medals. Emma Oosterwegel ran the fastest 800m of the field, 2:10.87, to finish just 38 points behind O’Connor with a personal best of 6713. Sofie Dokter secured bronze with another PB of 6664.

1. Kate O’Connor (IRL) – 6751 NR
2. Emma Oosterwegel (NED) – 6713 PB
3. Sofie Dokter (NED) – 6664 PB

Nillessen takes tactical 1500m title

The men’s 1500m came down to a tightly contested final lap, with Dutchman Stefan Nillessen emerging victorious in 3:35.70.

Nillessen held off Sweden’s Samuel Pihlström, who took silver in 3:36.16, while Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran secured bronze in 3:36.24. Just 0.70 separated the first five finishers.

1. Stefan Nillessen (NED) – 3:35.70
2. Samuel Pihlström (SWE) – 3:36.16
3. Andrew Coscoran (IRL) – 3:36.24

Great Britain completes 4x100m relay double

Great Britain & Northern Ireland swept the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay titles.

The British women delivered an emphatic victory in a European-leading 42.05, finishing more than a second ahead of Switzerland, who took silver in 43.12. Poland claimed bronze in 43.15.

The men’s final was considerably closer, but Great Britain prevailed in 38.45. Germany secured silver in 38.64, with Belgium following in 38.70 for bronze.

Women’s 4x100m

1. Great Britain & NI – 42.05 EL
2. Switzerland – 43.12
3. Poland – 43.15

Men’s 4x100m

1. Great Britain & NI – 38.45
2. Germany – 38.64
3. Belgium – 38.70

World records headline morning race walks

The morning race-walking programme produced two world records and four different European champions.

Spain’s María Pérez dominated the women’s half marathon race walk, winning in a world record of 1:30:06. Italy’s Alexandrina Mihai took silver in a personal best of 1:31:04, while Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska claimed bronze in a national record of 1:31:07.

Italian youngster Sofia Fiorini delivered another record-breaking performance in the women’s marathon walk, clocking 3:15:11 to set world and European U23 records. Katarzyna Zdziebło finished second in a Polish record of 3:19:50, with Spain’s Raquel González third in 3:20:49.

In the men’s marathon walk, Olympic champion Massimo Stano prevailed in a world-leading European record of 2:56:49, just eight seconds ahead of Spain’s Miguel Ángel López. France’s Aurélien Quinion completed the podium.

Spain also celebrated victory in the men’s half marathon race walk through Paul McGrath, who won in a personal best of 1:23:23. Italy claimed both remaining medals through Francesco Fortunato and Andrea Cosi.

Men’s half marathon race walk

1. Paul McGrath (ESP) – 1:23:23 PB
2. Francesco Fortunato (ITA) – 1:23:36
3. Andrea Cosi (ITA) – 1:23:49 PB

Men’s marathon race walk

1. Massimo Stano (ITA) – 2:56:49 ER, WL
2. Miguel Ángel López (ESP) – 2:56:57 PB
3. Aurélien Quinion (FRA) – 2:59:29 PB

Women’s half marathon race walk

1. María Pérez (ESP) – 1:30:06 WR
2. Alexandrina Mihai (ITA) – 1:31:04 PB
3. Lyudmila Olyanovska (UKR) – 1:31:07 NR

Women’s marathon race walk

1. Sofia Fiorini (ITA) – 3:15:11 WR, EU23R
2. Katarzyna Zdziebło (POL) – 3:19:50 NR
3. Raquel González (ESP) – 3:20:49 PB

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