Italians Extend Lead at European Team Championships

The Italian team has extended its lead to 34,5 points over two-time champions Poland in the First Division of the European Team Championships. Italy leads with a total of 293 points ahead of Poland (258,5 points), Germany (256,5 points) and Great Britain (243,5 points).

Three championships records were set by Italy’s Alessandro Sibilio in the men’s 400 metres hurdles with 48.14, Switzerland’s Jason Joseph in the 110 metres hurdles with 13.12, Mohamed Katir in the men’s 1500 metres with 3:36.95.

Men’s 400 metres hurdles: 

European under 23 champion Alessandro Sibilio won the men’s 400 metres hurdles in 48.14 breaking Karsten Warholm’s championship record. Sibilio’s win increased the Italian lead to 19.5 points over Great Britain. Sibilio set the second fastest time of his career after his PB of 47.93 set in the semifinal of the Olympic Championships. Nick Smit followed in second place behind Sibilio in 48.95, but world under 20 champion Ismail Nezir won the B heat race in a European Under 23 record of 48.94 setting the second fastest overall time and earned 15 points for Turkey. 

Alessandro Sibilio: “I was coming back from an injury, but I had to give 16 points to the team here and I did. The 400 metres hurdles is the best event in athletics right now, with two of the biggest stars, Karsten and Allison. I have to improve and try to stay with the best athletes. I have been through difficult moments, but I am dreaming of being the best. We have a great team captain, Olympic and world champion Gianmarco Tamberi. He is in the team supporting us”. 

Men’s 110 metres hurdles: 

European indoor champion Jason Joseph from Switzerland won the men’s 110 metres hurdles in a championship record of 13.12. Joseph came close to his national record of 13.10 set the Golden Gala in Florence. Enrique Llopis from Spain finished second in 13.44 ahead of Hassan Fofana from Italy (13.47) and 2018 European champion Pascal Martinot Lagarde from France (13.58). 

Jason Joseph: “I know that after the first day of competitions in the first division our team was not as good in the team standing as it could, but honestly I did not think about that going into the start blocks. Certainly I kept in mind that I could get 16 points. That is why I was focused on my own job. I was trying to do my PB, as track is really fast here. To be able to win with championships record is not bad achievement. On my way to the World Championships in Budapest I will try to go under…