Stars of future in action in Slovakia as middle-distance runners Lyla Belshaw, Katie Pye and Matthew McKenna strike gold
Italy’s fine summer of athletics continued as they topped the medals table at the European Under-18 Championships in the Slovakian city of Banská Bystrica with Britain finishing in fourth place.
Britain led the medals table at the previous championships in Jerusalem in 2022 with eight golds and 16 medals in total, but this time the Brits won three golds and 11 medals as Italy led the competition in Slovakia with seven medals and 15 medals.
Italy’s success comes one month after their senior team topped the medals table at the European Championships in Rome.
The biennial under-18 event from July 18-21 saw British victories from Lyla Belshaw in the women’s 1500m, Katie Pye in the women’s 3000m and Matthew McKenna in the men’s 800m.
Isla McGowan made it a one-two for Britain in the women’s 1500m with further silver medals going to Thea Brown in the heptathlon, Joel Masters in the men’s 100m, Kara Dacosta in the women’s 400m and Shaikira King in the women’s 800m.
Olivia Forrest was not far behind Pye in the women’s 3000m as she took bronze with Joel Ajayi also winning bronze in the men’s 100m while the women’s medley relay team also made the podium.
Lyla Belshaw and Isla McGowan follow Wilma Bekkemoen Torbiørnsson (Getty)
Belshaw has been quietly impressing in recent months and the Colchester Harrier kicked past Wilma Bekkemoen Torbiörnss of Norway on the final bend as she stormed to gold in a championship best of 4:13.01 with team-mate McGowan coming through for second in a PB of 4:14.78.
“I definitely thought about winning this race,” said Belshaw. “If I wanted to do that, I needed to be at the peak of my condition. I did many speed sessions with my coach. I am so glad that I hit the championship best today.”
Lyla Belshaw (Getty)
Pye and Forrest further showed the strength of endurance running in the UK as they were first and third in the women’s 3000m. Aldershot athlete Pye clocked 9:20:25 as Julia Ehrle finished second and Forrest, the long-time leader, running 9:21.66.
“I wanted this medal, but it was so hard,” said Pye. “My legs hurt so much but I kept sprinting towards the line and got it just in the finish. It was a close race. What I learned today is that you need to believe until the last 100 metres. It all came down to the home straight.”
Katie Pye and Olivia Forrest (Getty)
McKenna won…
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