by Stuart Weir
Women’s 4x400m, exchange, photo by European Athletics
Women’s 4x400m, exchange, photo by European Athletics
Women’s 4x400m, exchange, photo by European Athletics
Women’s 4x400m, exchange, photo by European Athletics
The Relays
Who run the weekend? 😉#TeamNL🇳🇱 | #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/SH7xJAGc6V
— TeamNL🇳🇱 (@TeamNLtweets) March 8, 2021
The European Indoor Championship ended with the traditional male and female 4 by 400 relays. Wins in both took the Netherlands to the top of the medal table (based on the number of gold medals won). Poland, traditionally a strong relay country had the double misfortune. Firstly, two members of the men’s relay team tested positive for COVID and the decision was taken to pull the team from the race. Then in the warm-up, the Polish ladies lost Justyna ÅšwiÄ™ty-Ersetic.
Men’s 4x400m, photo by European Athletics
In a three-day event, there’s no time for semi-finals, so six countries qualify on past performances. With three medals for six teams – five teams in the case of the men this year – you’re always in with a chance.
🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱
Double Dutch delight in the 4x400m relay finals in #Torun2021! 🥇🥇 pic.twitter.com/OwMowhl8se
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) March 7, 2021
The Dutchmen took silver and bronze in the individual 400 and had three athletes in the final. They were always going to be favorites and they won comfortably. The British men continued our tradition of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. While the Dutch have had three in the final, Britain’s three individual runners had been fourth in a semi-final, fifth in a semi-final with the other one eliminated in round one. We cannot even attribute it to Britain’s legendary relay drills and camps as this was an entirely new team. To finish third ahead of Belgium and the Borlées was a magnificent achievement.
Men’s Result
1 Netherlands 3:06.06
2 Czech 3:06.54
3 GB 3:06.70
4 Belgium 3:06.96
With the outstanding individual 400m runners, Fence Bol, in their team, Netherlands was always going to be the team to beat. Poland with their heroine, Święty-Ersetic, might have run them close. In the end, it was a comfortable win for the Netherlands. Poland finished third. Italy and Ukraine (fourth and fifth) set new national records.
Group photo! 📸
The Netherlands win gold medals in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay finals in #Torun2021! pic.twitter.com/nasZaHhPse
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) March 7, 2021
The British team was Zoey Clark, an experienced 400 and relay runner, but whose form had not got her into the individual team. Jodie Williams, by profession a 200m runner, who had not run indoors for several years, Ami Pipi at 200m specialists in her first championship with Jessie Knight, a hurdler also in her first championship. It was a far cry from the 2013 European record-setting, gold medal-winning combination of Perri Shakes Drayton, Eilidh Doyle, Shana Cox, and Christine Ohuruogu. But Britain led going into the final leg.
A fantastic finish to the track events with a Silver medal in the women’s 4 x 400m! 🥈
Congratulations to @_ZoeyClark @Jodiealicia27 Ama Pipi and @Jessie_Knight #Torun2021 pic.twitter.com/ePXW86HKOu
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) March 7, 2021
The inexperienced quartet produced a magnificent race finishing more than a second ahead of Poland! Jessie Knight’s comment, after the race, shows the high expectations of this group of ladies: “I’ve just had so much fun. It was so nice, athletics is usually an individual sport and this is my first time being part of a GB relay and I’ve loved it. I’m a bit gutted that I didn’t hold onto first, but I had Femke [Bol] behind me, so I had to be sensible when I had her on my shoulder. I could have gone and run a 300 meter PB, but then my legs could have gone and I could have lost us a medal together, so I think I made the sensible choice. I’m really happy with my split, all of the girls did amazing and I had so much fun, so there are lots to take away from these championships”.
Women’s Result
1 Netherlands 3:27.15
2 GB 3:28.20
3 Poland 3:29.94
4 Italy 3:30.32
