Hunt bags Euro sprint double, Ceh keeps discus title

Britain's Amy Hunt (R) and Dina Asher-Smith in action in the 200m (Ben STANSALL)

Briton Amy Hunt claimed a memorable European sprint double after scorching to victory in the 200m in Birmingham on Thursday on a night 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."

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 sucesful, 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.

- Krause treble -

Germany's second gold of the night came through Gesa Felicitas Krause, who outgunned defending champion Alice Finot of France for victory in the women's 3,000m steeplechase in 9min 12.69sec.

It was a third European title for 34-year-old Krause, also twice a world bronze medallist, in her sixth championship.

Olivia Guerth also claimed bronze for Germany.

Just before Adeleke's silver medal showing in the 200m, Mark English bagged a first-ever men's European gold for Ireland.

Fresh from setting a new championship record in the semi-finals of the 800m, English once again delivered, roaring home in a perfectly-timed sprint to claim gold in the two-lap race in 1:45.26.

"I have been trying for a lifetime to get a title," said English, a medical doctor who had two bronze medals to his name.

"Relief in 2014 when I got my first medal and relief today as well. It is just amazing."

Croatian Marino Bloudek held off Spain's Mohamed Attaoui for silver.

Swiss Angelica Moser retained her pole vault title with a best of 4.80m, Finland's Wilma Heltela claiming silver (4.75) and France's world indoor champion Marie-Julie Bonnin bronze (4.70).

And the women's triple jump went to Italy as Dariya Derkach won with a best of 14.60m ahead of Belgium's Saliyya Guisse (14.46).

The continued success of the British team, with a 1-2 in the men's 100m, now passes to Zharnel Hughes in Friday's 200m final.

Hughes, the 2022 European gold medallist, won his semi-final in 20.05sec ahead of Swiss defending champion Timothe Mumenthaler, who clocked a personal best of 20.09.

Germany's Owen Ansah, who won 100m bronze in Birmingham, clocked the fastest qualifying time, of 20.04sec, while Italian veteran Fausto Desalu won the first semi in 20.08sec.

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