Bence Halasz in the hammer at the European Championships (© Getty Images)
Bence Halász produced the performance of his career to win his first major senior title at the European Championships in Birmingham on Tuesday (11), launching a world-leading Hungarian record of 84.25m to move to 10th on the world all-time list.
Miltiadis Tentoglou and Nadia Battocletti were also among the champions on the second day of action, both successfully defending their titles, while Romell Glave led a British one-two in the men’s 100m.
But the standout performance came from Halász, who had collected seven medals at senior global and continental championships before Birmingham without ever reaching the top step of the podium.
The Hungarian made his intentions clear from the outset, taking the lead with 80.96m in the opening round before improving to 81.84m with his third throw.
Already assured of a medal, he then produced a huge fifth-round effort. The hammer landed at 84.25m, adding more than a metre to his previous best and breaking the long-standing Hungarian record of 84.19m set by Adrian Annus in 2003.
It also elevated Halász to 10th on the world all-time list.
Germany’s world silver medallist Merlin Hummel responded with 81.30m later in the fifth round to secure silver, while Ukraine’s Olympic bronze medallist Mykhaylo Kokhan also produced his best throw in that round, reaching 79.49m for bronze.
“I was not expecting this kind of result,” said Halász. “When I released the hammer, I was thinking, ‘OK, this is a very good throw, maybe 83 metres.’ And then I was shocked when I saw the result. This is the best performance of my life.
“The atmosphere here in Birmingham has come very close to matching what I felt at the 2023 World Championships on my home soil. I hope I will make Budapest happy again soon (at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship). It will be a big competition.”
Tentoglou makes it four in a row
Tentoglou extended his dominance of the men’s long jump by winning his fourth successive European title.
The two-time Olympic champion had to come from behind after Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer took the lead with 8.29m in the second round.
Ehammer remained on top until round four, when Tentoglou produced his best jump of the night, sailing out to 8.44m (-1.1m/s) to take control of the competition.
That proved sufficient to earn Tentoglou another European crown, following his victories in Berlin in 2018, Munich in 2022 and Rome in 2024.
Ehammer’s 8.29m (-2.7m/s) held up for silver, while Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov saved his best until last, leaping 8.26m (-1.7m/s) in the sixth round to move into the bronze-medal position.
Battocletti also retained her title, using a powerful late kick to break clear of her rivals in the women’s 5000m. The Italian remained patient during a tactical race before making her decisive move on the final lap.
Once she accelerated, the Olympic silver medallist quickly opened a gap and went on to win comfortably in 15:37.84. Spain’s Marta Garcia took silver in 15:39.98, while Micol Majori ensured Italy claimed two places on the podium by finishing third in 15:40.65.
Glave leads British one-two
As on the opening night, the session ended with a 100m victory for the host nation.
This time Britain claimed both of the top two places as Romell Glave won the men’s final in 10.09 (-0.4m/s), ahead of teammate Jeremiah Azu, who clocked 10.16.
Defending champion Marcell Jacobs had looked impressive in winning his semifinal earlier in the evening, but the 2021 Olympic champion pulled up injured during the final and was unable to challenge for a third successive European title.
Glave, meanwhile, powered through the second half of the race to secure the European crown in front of the home crowd.
The finest margin of the night came in the women’s 100m hurdles, where Nadine Visser edged Pia Skrzyszowska by just one thousandth of a second.
Neither athlete could be separated by the official rounded times, with both recording 12.67, but the photo finish gave the Dutch athlete the title. France’s Laeticia Bapte completed the podium, taking bronze in 12.73.
