by Stuart Weir
Lina Nielsen, winning the 400m hurdles, photo by European Athletics
Naomi Ogbeta, TJ, second, photo by European Athletics
This is the day one wrap-up on the European Team Championships, by Stuart Weir. The first day was quite a battle and keeps the fans excited.
GB women on the money on day 1
That Team GB is leading at the end of the first day of the European Team Championship is largely down to the women. At one stage in its history, there were separate men’s and women’s team prizes. If the 2021 competition operated on that basis, GB would be well ahead in the women’s event but struggling in the men’s. As it is the combined results see Britain leading Poland but only by 0.5 of a point.
There were four British victories in the eleven women’s events on the first day. Ellie Baker won the 800 meters in 2:00.95 She summed up her race: “It is great to win it for the team. I just love the championship vibe and every time I pull on the vest, it is such a good feeling. I could feel a lot of clipping going on behind me down the back straight so I tried to get ahead and focus on myself. I’m so pleased to take the win and the full points for the team. I’m so pleased I’ve been able to represent GB here. It’s all good experience”.
Revere Walcott-Nolan pulled off a brilliant surprise win in the 3000 meters in 9:13.36. “My last 3000m race was eight weeks ago and my training has dropped down more to suit 800m/1500m” she explained, “so coming into today I was a bit nervous as I wondered if I still had it there over 3000m. I felt good the whole way round but it started to bite a bit of the last lap. I just knew if I could hold onto the girl in front, it would be anyone’s game”.
Lina Nielsen, who won the 400 hurdles in 55.59 is having a great season, having already improved her PR by more than a second, achieving the Olympic standard, had a very professional attitude to the race: “Today was always about the win, not the time. The last 40 meters was all about going for the line and I’m so glad I got the win in the end. It was nice to have someone pushing me all the time. I was expecting it to be a close race and I was expecting everyone to go for a PB or SB, so I knew it would be a hard race. I just had to get to hurdle 10 and run! This means a lot to me. On my first senior call-up, I got injured and couldn’t run, so I’m so happy to get the win at this one”.
The Germans were leading in the sprint relay but messed up the final change-over allowing a slick movement of the baton from Bianca Williams to Desiree Henry to see the British women home in 43.36. Achieving the result without Dina Asher-Smith, Ashleigh Nelson and Asha Philip show the strength of the GB squad.
British Women’s Results
100m Imani-Lara Lansiquot 11.27 Third
400m Yasmin Liverpool 53.02 Fifth
800m Ellie Baker (GB) 2:00.95 First
3000m Revee Walcott-Nolan (GB) 9:13.36 First
400m hurdles Lina Nielsen (GB) 55.59 First
3000m SC Maisie Grice 10:18.49 Seventh
4 by 100 GB 43.36 First
Triple Jump Naomi Ogbeta 14.02 Second
Hammer Jessica Mayho 63.91 Sixth
Pole Vault Molly Caudery 4.35 Third
Discus Kirsty Law – 58.13 Third
Men’s Results
100m Ojie Edoburun 10.46 Fifth
400m Cameron Chalmers 45.89 Second
1500m Archie Davis 3:57.89 Fourth
5000m Thomas Mortimer 13:28.12 Fifth
400m hurdles Alastair Chalmers 49.95 Second
4 by 100 GB 39.39 Sixth
Long jump Reynold Banigo 7.56 Fifth
High Jump William Grimsey 2.24 Second
Shot Put Scott Lincoln 20.00m Third
Javelin Daniel Bainbridge 72.12 Seventh
