A packed day of action on Day 6 of the European Athletics Championships started with a roar as Spain’s Maria Perez stormed to a world record in the women’s half marathon race walk and Italy’s Sofia Fiorini claimed her own world record in the women’s marathon race walk.
Four race walk finals brought the competition to the streets of Birmingham, with two men’s and women’s races starting the morning as Perez carried her double world title momentum into a 1:30:06 record in the debut of the half marathon walk at the championships. Italy’s Alexandrina Mihai took silver in 1:31:04 and Ukraine’ Lyudmila Olyanovska got bronze in 1:31:07.
“I am very happy, especially as I didn’t expect to break the world record today,” Perez said. I didn’t know what the world record was, to be honest. During the race, I didn’t even know I was on my way to breaking until I crossed the finish line. I didn’t think I was going to do it at a European championships, but it is great to have broken the record and to win the European title.”
When it was Fiorini’s turn, she knew that that stage was set for her to make a statement in the marathon walk. Fiorini smashed the world record in 3:15:11 and shaved more than nine minutes off of the previous mark as Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo finished second in 3:19:50 while Spain’s Raquel González was third in 3:20:49.
“I felt happy and relaxed,” Fiorini said. “When my coach asked me two months ago what my goal was going to be, it wasn’t just a medal or first place, but the world record. I trained for that because I felt it was in my legs. I am so grateful for the journey and to arrive here.”
On the track and in the field, Great Britain swept the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays with the men’s team of Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Zharnel Hughes and Romell Glave taking the win in 38.45 over Germany (38.64) and Belgium (38.70) while the women’s squad featuring Dina Asher-Smith, Amy Hunt, Success Eduan and Imani Lansiquot struck gold in 42.05 ahead of Switzerland (43.12) and Poland (43.15).
Ireland’s Kate O’Connor won the heptathlon with 6751 points The Netherlands’ teammates Emma Oosterwegel (6713 points) and Sofie Dokter (6664 points) as Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh took gold in the women’s high jump with a 1.97m leap over Poland’s Maria Zodzik (1.95m) and Montenegro’s Marija Vukovic (1.95m).
In the women’s 400m, Norway’s Henrietta Jæger bolted to a 49.04 stunner as she slipped past Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka (50.04) and The Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver 50.15 while Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez leaped to a world lead in the men’s triple jump in 18.15m as Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo took silver in 17.76m and Hernandez’ teammate Andrea Dallavalle was third with a 7.37m jump
Sweden’s Andreas Almgren struck gold in the men’s 10,000m in 27:23.44 over Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu (27:42.67) and France’s Jimmy Gressier (28:07.90) as Stefan Nillessen took the men’s 1,500m title for the Netherlands in 3:35.70 as he inched by Sweden’s Samuel Pihlström (3:36.16) and Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran (3:36.24).
Spain’s Paul McGrath kicked the day off with gold in the men’s half marathon race walk in 1:23:23 over Italian teammates Francesco Fortunato (1:23:36) and Andrea Cosi (1:23:49) while their teammate Massimo Stano won the men’s marathon race walk in a 2:56:49 world lead over Spain’s Miguel Ángel López (2:56:57) and France’ Aurélien Quinion (2:59:29).
Day 6 Results
Men’s Half Marathon Walk
1. Paul McGrath (Spain) – 1:23:23
2. Francesco Fortunato (Italy) – 1:23:36
3. Andrea Cosi (Italy) – 1:23:49
Men’s Marathon Walk
1. Massimo Stano (Italy) – 2:56:49 WL
2. Miguel Ángel López (Spain) – 2:56:57
3. Aurélien Quinion (France) – 2:59:29
Women’s Half Marathon Walk
1. María Pérez (Spain) – 1:30:06 WR
2. Alexandrina Mihai (Italy) – 1:31:04
3. Lyudmila Olyanovska (Ukraine) – 1:31:07
Women’s Marathon Walk
1. Sofia Fiorini (Italy) – 3:15:11 WR
2. Katarzyna Zdzieblo (Poland) – 3:19:50
3. Raquel González (Spain) – 3:20:49
Heptathlon
1. Kate O’Connor (Ireland) – 6751 points
2. Emma Oosterwegel (Netherlands) – 6713 points
3. Sofie Dokter (Netherlands) – 6664 points
Men’s Javelin Throw
1. Julian Weber (Germany) – 90.40m
2. Nick Thumm (Germany) – 83.76m
3. Patriks Gailums (Latvia) – 82.97m
Women’s High Jump
1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) – 1.97m
2. Maria Zodzik (Poland) – 1.95m
3. Marija Vukovic (Montenegro) – 1.95m
Women’s 400m
1. Henriette Jæger (Norway) – 49.04
2. Natalia Bukowiecka (Poland) – 50.04
3. Lieke Klaver (Netherlands) – 50.15
Men’s Triple Jump
1. Andy Díaz Hernández (Italy) – 18.15m WL
2. Pedro Pichardo (Portugal) – 17.76m
3. Andrea Dallavalle (Italy) – 17.37m
Men’s 10,000m
1. Andreas Almgren (Sweden) – 27:23.44
2. Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu (Switzerland) – 27:42.67
3. Jimmy Gressier (France) – 28:07.90
Men’s 1,500m
1. Stefan Nillessen (Netherlands) – 3:35.70
2. Samuel Pihlström (Sweden) – 3:36.16
3. Andrew Coscoran (Ireland) – 3:36.24
Men’s 4x100m Relay
1. Great Britain & NI – 38.45
2. Germany – 38.64
3. Belgium – 38.70
Women’s 4x100m Relay
1. Great Britain & NI – 42.05
2. Switzerland – 43.12
3. Poland – 43.15
