BIRMINGHAM (United Kingdom) — Briton Amy Hunt claimed a memorable European sprint double after scorching to victory in the 200m in Birmingham when Germany claimed five medals, including two golds.
Hunt kept her nerve to deliver a crushing final 50 metres for gold in 22.19 seconds, with Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke taking silver in 22.28.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, herself an European sprint double winner back in 2018, claimed bronze for a record-equalling seventh continental medal.
Hunt’s victory means the 24-year-old can continue her bold quest for four championships golds, with two further outings to come in the relays. “Two out of four, baby!” said Hunt.
“No celebrations and no champagne until Sunday night. We have got to come out here and make sure we show them who the best sprinting nation is in Europe.”
In a competition worthy of a world champs or Olympics, Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia retained his discus title, twice bettering the championship record to an eventual best of 72.51m.
Lithuania’s world record-holder Mykolas Alekna (69.89) had to be happy with silver, while Germany’s Henrik Janssen (69.53) edged reigning three-time world champion Daniel Stahl os Sweden by 31cm for bronze.
“This was the competition with the highest level there has been in the history of these championships,” said Ceh.
“When you throw alongside these guys it is like another boost,” Ceh added according to AFP.
Janssen’s discus bronze was the culmination of a great night for Team Germany.
World champion Leo Neugebauer sealed a gripping victory in the decathlon by just 38 points over German teammate Niklas Kaul.
“This was my first Europeans, I’d say they’ve been very successful, I’m very happy,” said Neugebauer, whose championship decathlon best of 54.31m in the discus basically secured his run at gold.
Come the final 1,500m, Neugebauer enjoyed a 154-point lead over Kaul, whose massive 73.54m in the javelin saw him leapfrog Norway’s Sander Skotheim.
For gold, Kaul needed to beat Neugebauer by a huge 22 seconds and it was close as the latter dramatically tied up in the closing 30 metres.
He collapsed across the line in 4:38.36 to simultaneous groans and cheers from the 20,000-strong crowd at Alexander Stadium for the narrowest of victories. Skotheim claimed bronze.
