Mondo Duplantis at the European Championships (© Getty Images)
Mondo Duplantis brought the European Championships in Birmingham to a spectacular conclusion on Sunday (16), clearing a championship record of 6.15m to win his fourth successive pole vault title.
There was drama elsewhere on the final evening at Alexander Stadium, with Larissa Iapichino prevailing in an extraordinarily close women’s long jump, Georgia Hunter Bell delivering another gold medal for the host nation and Amy Hunt becoming the first athlete in European Championships history to win four gold medals at a single edition. Italy then had the final say, winning the men’s 4x400m to finish top of the medal table.
Duplantis had been expected to dominate the pole vault, but Emmanouil Karalis pushed the world record-holder deep into the competition.
Duplantis cleared 6.10m at the first attempt, while Karalis came agonisingly close but dislodged the bar on the way down. The Greek then gambled, passing his two remaining attempts to move to 6.15m.
Duplantis again cleared at the first time of asking, improving the championship record of 6.10m he had set in Rome two years ago. Karalis missed once at 6.15m before passing again and using his final attempt at 6.20m, where another near miss ended his challenge. He took silver with 6.00m.
Earlier in the day, Alisa Vainio produced a dominant performance to win the women’s marathon in 2:22:26, taking almost three minutes off the championship record. The Finn finished almost five minutes ahead of Hungary’s Lili Anna Vindics-Tóth, whose PB of 2:27:21 earned her silver. Britain’s Abbie Donnelly took bronze in 2:27:33.
Germany’s Amanal Petros also broke the championship record in the men’s race, winning his first major title in 2:09:11. The world silver medallist made his decisive move during the second half and spent much of the closing stages running alone before Italy’s Pietro Riva reduced the gap late on. Petros held on to win by seven seconds from Riva.
Iapichino prevails in long jump thriller
Just six centimetres separated the leading five athletes in a remarkably close women’s long jump final.
Iapichino laid down the challenge immediately with a wind-assisted 7.00m in the opening round. Britain’s Jazmin Sawyers responded with 6.95m and then improved to 6.99m in round four, putting her within one centimetre of the lead.
France’s Hilary Kpatcha was just another centimetre back with 6.98m, while Portugal’s world indoor champion Agate de Sousa reached 6.96m and defending champion Malaika Mihambo 6.94m.
None could overhaul Iapichino, who held on to take gold ahead of Sawyers and Kpatcha.
Georgia Hunter Bell gave the home crowd another title to celebrate in the women’s 1500m. The world indoor champion produced a decisive final lap of 58.44, pulling clear to win in 4:07.78 and secure her first senior European outdoor title.
Elsewhere in the individual finals, Germany’s Frederik Ruppert won the men’s 3000m steeplechase in 8:25.33 and Croatia’s Sara Kolak took the women’s javelin title with 62.43m.
Hunt and Asher-Smith make history in mixed 4x100m
Jeremiah Azu, Dina Asher-Smith, Zharnel Hughes and Hunt combined to win the mixed 4x100m in a European record of 39.97, holding off Germany, who finished second in 40.11.
It completed an extraordinary championships for Hunt. Having already won the individual 100m and 200m titles before anchoring Britain to victory in the women’s 4x100m on Saturday, she became the first athlete in the 92-year history of the European Championships to win four gold medals at a single edition.
It was also another landmark race for Asher-Smith. The mixed relay gold extended her all-time European medal tally to 11, making her the outright most decorated athlete in championship history.
The Netherlands successfully defended their women’s 4x400m title, winning the event for a third successive edition.
Lieke Klaver opened up a sizeable advantage on the second leg and, although Britain remained in contention, Femke Broeders-Bol resisted a strong challenge from Emily Newnham on the anchor to bring the Dutch team home in 3:21.10. Great Britain took silver in 3:21.68.
Italy have the final say
The championships – and the battle for the top of the medal table – came down to the final race.
Italy and Great Britain entered the men’s 4x400m with nine gold medals apiece. Britain started strongly, but Luca Sito put Italy into the lead on the second leg before Lorenzo Benati held off Britain’s Charlie Dobson to win by just 0.03, 2:59.16 to 2:59.19.
That victory ensured Italy topped the medal table for the second successive edition, finishing with 10 golds and 22 medals overall, ahead of Great Britain’s nine golds. Italy also topped the placings table with 202 points, ahead of Great Britain & NI on 174.5 and Germany on 161.
