Redemption for Karsten Warlhom as Femke Bol writes history on day 5 of European athletics championships in Munich - As it happened
Karsten Warholm and Femke Bol were on a mission on Friday night and both delivered while Mujinga Kambundji claimed women's 200m gold over Dina Asher-Smith.
Athletics
It was another memorable night at the Olympiastadion of Munich on Friday (19 August).
Day five of the European athletics championships was highlighted by the historic performance of Femke Bol, who became the first woman to win a 400m and 400m hurdles double at a major event.
Olympic champion Karsten Warholm matched the Dutch runner in the men's race and with a time of 47.12 broke the championship record that had stood since 1982. The win comes off the back of a disappointing 7th in Oregon at July's world championships.
The Norwegian retained his title from Berlin four years ago as did Olympic medallist Laura Muir of Britain in the 1500m. The Scottish runner followed up on her gold over the same distance just two weeks ago at her home Commonwealth Games.
Great Britain took a 1-2 in the men's 200m with Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, while two-time defending champion Dina Asher-Smith was beaten by Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji is the women's event.
Read below to find out how Friday's action unfolded.
200m Women’s Final: Swiss joy for Kambundji
Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji is the women's 200m European champion after a stellar race that saw her pip the two-time defending champion Dina Asher-Smith.
The 30-year-old ran 22.32 and claimed her second medal of the competition after winning silver in the 100m.
"It's the best thing in my life. Thank you for your support," she yelled at the crowd after the win.
After clocking the fastest time in the semi-finals Asher-Smith, the world bronze medallist from Eugene finished second in 22.43. The 26-year-old was hoping to avenge her 100m final from earlier in the week when she pulled up with cramp mid-race. Denmark's Ida Karstoft ran 22.72 to take third.
Women’s Triple long jump Final: Bekh-Romanchuk grabs first gold in Munich for Ukraine
Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk celebrated her career first major title as senior in the triple jump event.
The 27-year-old leapt 15.02m, the European lead, to win gold ahead of Finland’s Kristiina Makela who set a national record (14.64).
Hanna Minenko of Israel claimed bronze with 14.45m.
Men's 400m hurdles Final: Karsten Warholm retains European title
Norway's 400m hurdles king Karsten Warholm defended his crown in stunning fashion and set a new championship record along the way.
The world record holder and Olympic champion ran 47.12 while Frechman Wilfried Happio came second with a time of 48.57. Bronze was a closer contest with Turkey's Yasmani Copello clocking 48.78.
For Warholm tonight's performance was a chance to avenge his seventh place from the Worlds in Oregon.
"It's just wonderful coming back to my winning ways," he said after the triumph. "I love coming back to Munich and making good memories."
"I had a very tought season with injuries so to be here and to bounce back means a world," he added. "I learned that I should have never take anything like this for granted. Now I am going to enjoy it even more because it was so tough. I hope that I can be injury free and to train at the high level again so you could never count me out again."
Women's 400m hurdles: Bol does the double
It was a run away victory for Femke Bol in the 400m hurdles.
The Dutch runner came, saw and conquered her mission of completing the golden double by claiming the 400m hurdles and backing up her win in the 400 flat final earlier in the week.
"It was pretty hard," she said after the win, "But I'm so proud of my team and my coaches. I'm super happy. Thank you to this crowd."
"Winning this gold medal is a big relief," the 22-year-old said.
"It was a great race for me. I am very surprised to achieve such a fast time. I was very hard mentally to race the 400m without hurdles. I am so proud to achieve the double. I will never do the double again. Well, maybe. Never say never (laughs)" - Femke Bol
The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist 's time of 52.67 was a championship record. The podium was completed by Ukrainian duo Viktoriya Tkachuk (54.30) and Anna Ryzhykova (54.86).
Discus Throw Men's Final: 19-year-old Alekna beats Ceh for gold
Mykolas Alekna added a senior European title to his U20 gold won last year in Tallin.
The 19-year-old from Lithuania, who's the son of Olympic champion Virgilijus, topped the discus throw standing with 69.78m, a championship record.
After finishing runner-up in Eugene, Alekna swapped places on the podium with reigning world champion Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia, who took silver with a 68.28-throw.
Lawrence Okoye recorded a season best of 67.14 to win Britain's first European medal in the event.
200m Men’s Final: Great Britain delight
It was a Team GB one-two finish in the men's 200m sprint.
Zharnel Hughes claimed gold with a season best time of 20.07 while fellow countryman Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (20.17) took home silver and Italy's Filippo Tortu claimed bronze (20.27).
For Hughes, the gold compliments the silver he won earlier in the week in the 100m final.
3000m Steeplechase Men’s Final: Finland celebrates second title
Topi Raitanen won the men's 3000m steeplechase event to claim the second European crown for Finland, following Wilma Murto's gold in the women's pole vault
The 26-year-old held off Italian duo Ahmed Abdelwahed and Osama Zoghlami, respectively silver and bronze, taking the win in 8:21.80.
Women's 1500m Final: Muir retains European title
Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir claimed the first gold medal of the night: the British runner, who recently claimed the Commonwealth Games title following a bronze at the Worlds in Oregon, took control of the race since the start and in the last lap distanced Ciara Mageean of Ireland to take a comfortable win in 4:01.08.
Sofia Ennaoui of Poland completed the podium ahead of Muir's compatriot Katie Snowden.
"I was actually very surprised when I saw 4:01, because of that last lap," Muir said after the race.
"I am really pleased with running almost sub 4. It is good an bad to have such strong opponents - it's fantastic to see Ciara [Mageen] doing so well. I knew I had to run really well today to beat her. It was a good battle out there, and I am just pleased I could come away with a win. After this, I want to enjoy my first holiday abroad for years."
Men's 800m: Wightman through to the final
At these European championships, 1,500m world champion Jake Wightman opted to focus on the two-lap race and qualified for Sunday's final with the second fastest time behind indoor world gold medallist Mariano Garcia of Spain, who crossed the line in 1:46.52.
READ: Jake Wightman on “autopilot” as he aims for 800m glory at European Athletics Championships
European athletics championships - Day 5 finals on Friday 19 August: Schedule
(All times are in Central European Summer Time. UTC+2):
20:20 Discus Throw Men’s Final
20:45 1500m Women’s Final
20:55 Triple Jump Women’s Final
21:00 3000m Steeplechase Men’s Final
21:20 200m Men’s Final
21:45 400m Hurdles Women’s Final
22:00 400m Hurdles Men’s Final
22:22 200m Women’s Final