Defending champions Italy surged into the lead at the end of a thrilling Saturday (June 28) at the European Athletics Team Championships 1st Division in Madrid.
With one day remaining, the Italians have quietly but consistently racked up big points to total 290, pulling clear of Germany (266) and Poland (256.5) in the battle for the team title.
The Netherlands, who led overnight, dropped to fourth despite rewriting the record books in the relays. Their men’s and women’s 4x100m squads both stormed in new national records. The men clocked a blistering 37.87, also a championship record and the fastest time by a European quartet this season. Nsikak Ekpo, Taymir Burnet, Xavi Mo-Ajok, and Elvis Afrifa executed perfect baton changes to finish ahead of Germany and Great Britain.
In the women’s race, the Dutch repeated their indoor podium sweep from Apeldoorn 2025. Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji edged Nadine Visser with both athletes clocking 12.39 in the 100m hurdles, just shy of a new championship mark due to an illegal +2.2 m/s wind. Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska claimed third in 12.60.
Field Events
Elsewhere, Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou lit up the field events. He had a sensational championship record and world-leading leap in the men’s long jump. The throws also saw star turns from Olympic veterans Anita Włodarczyk and Daniel Ståhl, who proved they’re still at the top of their game by winning the women’s hammer and men’s discus respectively.
Switzerland made it a sprint hurdles double with wins in both the men’s and women’s races, while Czechia struck gold in both the men’s high jump and 400m hurdles.
Italy’s Lorenzo Simonelli placed second in the men’s 110m hurdles, Ayomide Folorunso repeated that in the women’s 400m hurdles, Mattia Furlani took third in the men’s long jump, Eloisa Coira claimed third in the women’s 800m, and Erika Sarencini also placed third in the women’s triple jump. Wherever you looked, Italians were scoring.
With a maximum of 192 points still up for grabs on the final day at Estadio Vallehermoso, the title is far from decided, and the fight for survival in the relegation zone is just as fierce.