Key events
Sean Ingle
Stand … and deliver. On a balmy night in Birmingham, Matt Hudson-Smith powered past the stand bearing his name at the Alexander Stadium and into history by becoming the first man to win three European Championship 400m titles.
And afterwards, as the adrenaline flooded his body and he posed wearing a crown in front of the Matthew Hudson-Smith Stand, the 31-year-old made it clear just how much it meant. “Nobody is going to beat me on this track,” he said. “This is my home. I have been here since I was nine. I know this track like the back of my hand.”
High drama already in Birmingham today then. Now to remind ourselves of what happened last night, via Sean Ingle’s report …
Sean Ingle
Keely Hodgkinson’s biggest rival for European 800m gold has been dramatically put through into Friday’s final after being tripped and sent sprawling during Thursday’s first semi-final.
It means that the hugely anticipated showdown is still on between Hodgkinson, the Olympic gold medallist; Audrey Werro, the 22-year-old Swiss superstar who ran the third fastest time in history in June; and the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol, the 400m hurdles world champion who has moved up this season.
Preamble
Thursday night’s programme is poised to crescendo with an exhilarating women’s 200m showdown: Amy Jones, Dina Asher-Smith and Success Eduan of Great Britain will all run, so it is not one to miss.
Before that keenly-anticipated closing race, scheduled for 9.50pm UK time, there are gold medals on offer in the women’s triple jump, pole vault and 3,000m steeplechase. Meanwhile the men will battle for gold, silver and bronze in the discus throw and 800m, and the decathlon will also conclude from 9.10pm, with the 1,500m.
Throw in the men’s decathlon javelin (pun intended) and a men’s 200m semi-final, due at 8.05pm, and it’s another packed evening of action at the European Athletics Championships. Let’s get it on!