Jana Van Lent secured a historic bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, marking the first time a Belgian woman has claimed an EK-medaille on a middle or long distance. The performance highlighted a day of intense competition, featuring a championship record in the women’s 800 meters and Gianmarco Tamberi’s fourth European high jump title.
Jana Van Lent’s Historic 10,000-Meter Bronze
Jana Van Lent finished the 10,000 meters in 31:47.81, securing third place behind winner Nadia Battocletti of Italy and runner-up Maureen Koster of the Netherlands. According to race reports, Van Lent maintained a strong position throughout the race, responding decisively when Megan Keith initiated a move with seven laps remaining. While Battocletti pulled away with a late surge, Van Lent successfully defended her position against the field to claim the medal. Teammates Lisa Rooms and Chloé Herbiet also recorded strong results, finishing 10th and 11th respectively, both achieving personal or season-best times.
Audrey Werro Claims 800-Meter Title
In one of the most anticipated finals of the championships, 22-year-old Swiss runner Audrey Werro won the 800-meter gold with a time of 1:54.81, setting a new championship record. Werro led the final lap, successfully holding off a challenge from Keely Hodgkinson, who took silver in 1:55.01. Femke Broeders-Bol, transitioning from her background in the 400-meter hurdles, secured the bronze in 1:55.54, which stands as a national record.
Audrey Werro entered the final as the fastest European woman this year with a time of 1:53.80, and she was reinstated into the final by the jury after a painful fall in her semi-final.
High Jump and Technical Discipline Updates
Gianmarco Tamberi claimed his third European high jump title—and fourth overall—by clearing 2.32 meters. The Italian athlete surpassed Oleg Dorosjtsjoek, who took the silver medal. Thomas Carmoy, representing Belgium after recovering from an ankle operation, finished eighth with a clearance of 2.18 meters.
In the heptathlon, Noor Vidts concluded the first day in seventh place. After four disciplines, she trails leader Adrianna Sulek-Schubert by 181 points. Vidts noted that despite a lack of training time this year, she felt physically well, concluding her day with a season-best time of 24.14 seconds in the 200 meters. The competition continues with the long jump, javelin, and the final 800-meter race.
Notable Performances in Sprints and Throws
The men’s 200-meter final concluded with a controversial victory for German sprinter Owen Ansah, who clocked 19.95 seconds. Ansah is currently contesting a potential suspension following a refused doping control, an issue that drew significant attention in the Alexander Stadium. Zharnel Hughes took silver in 20.16 seconds, while Eseosa Desalu and Timothé Mumenthaler shared the bronze after finishing in identical times.
In the discus throw, Jorinde van Klinken secured gold with a 67.67-meter throw on her first attempt. This follows her silver medal performance in the shot put earlier in the week. Karsten Warholm continued his dominance in the 400-meter hurdles, claiming his fourth European title in a championship record time of 46.63 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the women’s 10,000 meters at the European Athletics Championships?
Nadia Battocletti of Italy took the gold medal, followed by Maureen Koster (Netherlands) with silver and Jana Van Lent (Belgium) with bronze.
How many European titles has Gianmarco Tamberi won?
Tamberi secured his fourth European high jump title in Birmingham.
What is the status of the women’s heptathlon?
After four disciplines, Adrianna Sulek-Schubert leads the field. Noor Vidts currently sits in seventh place.
What records were broken during the event?
Audrey Werro set a new championship record in the 800 meters (1:54.81), and Karsten Warholm set a championship record in the 400-meter hurdles (46.63).
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