The Netherlands lead the team standings after the opening night of the European Team Championships
The first full day of the European Team Championships in Madrid on Friday (June 27) saw several championship records broken. Despite the warm and humid conditions, the newly laid green Conica track at the Estadio Vallehermoso proved fast.
While Great Britain opted not to send its top-tier squad, the team still came away with two notable victories — the first courtesy of Sam Reardon, who impressed in the men’s 400m.
Reardon delivered the performance of his life, breaking the championship record with a blistering 44.60. It marked his first individual international appearance for GB & NI, and he made it count.
Reardon, just 21, had already made waves as part of Britain’s mixed and men’s 4x400m relay squads at the Paris Olympics, collecting medals in both. His breakthrough year in 2024 saw him run 44.70 at the London Diamond League, a time he has now bettered in Madrid.
“That was an amazing race, I knew a championship record could go as it was such a good field and the weather is perfect. It is really hot and no wind,” said Reardon.
“The stadium and the track are unbelievable, so I thought I could be competitive, try and go for the win and get a PB, but to go 44.6 which is world championship qualifying time, a championships record and a PB, the list goes on – it is just so, so amazing.”
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Pohorilko took second in 44.81, with Hungary’s Patrik Simon Enyingi close behind in third at 44.84.
The women’s 400m was billed as a showdown between two of Europe’s finest: Netherland’s Femke Bol and Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka. After a surprising third-place finish in Ostrava just weeks earlier, Bol was back with a point to prove, and she delivered.
Bol, the 400m hurdles world champion, stormed to victory with her second-fastest outdoor time ever, clocking 49.48 to break her own championship record of 49.82, set in 2023. The reigning European champion earned 16 points for the Netherlands as she reaffirmed her dominance in the event.
Bukowiecka claimed second in 50.14, while Spain’s Paula Sevilla recorded 50.70 for third place. Great Britain’s Emily Newnham impressed with a strong fifth place, setting a personal best of 50.84.
The final event on the track saw Eugene Amo-Dadzie take victory in the men’s 100m, delivering a strong finish to cross the line in 10.07 (0.0). With Italy’s Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs…
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