BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Classical full version in a non-Olympic year, that is, the 27th edition of the European Championships at Alexander Stadium. A record number of 1600+ athletes from 49 countries is expected. Last time in Rome, 1474 from 48, and in Munich, 1386 from 48. Another record is the number of events, with 50 (new event mixed 4×100 m). Also, walking is changing to half marathon and marathon distances. Actually, the event, which started back in 1934, will be held for the first time in Britain. After Rome again performance bonus is offered, 50 000 Euro for best result in five men and five women categories. Compared to last time and the size of the stadium, it is expected to be full (20,000). In total, 10 World champions from Tokyo should compete, as well as 7 Olympic winners from Paris. Aiming for fourth win a row, Mondo Duplantis, Miltiadis Tentoglou, Karsten Warholm and Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 5000 m. Missing are record gold medalist Sandra Eklöf and Anita Wlodarczyk, who already has four titles. Among title defenders, 4 men and 8 women are missing, as is Ireland’s mixed 4×400 m. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is missing in the 1500 m, but runs the 5000 m. Two champions from Rome are in other events, Femke Broeders-Bol (400mH to 800 m) and Yeman Crippa (half marathon to 10 000 m). French discus thrower Melina Robert-Michon is expected to achieve her 9th individual participation, which is the highest ever number at European Championships.
Short event by event previews
Men
100 m: Last time it was top two for Italy. But Glave, Ansah and Azu are against it. Meet record 9.95 is not far away.
200 m: Defender Mumenthaler, but Hughes for home gold. Podium wide open.
400 m: European 400 m at high level. British hopes for sweep, but Vessat and Molnar will mix the cards.
800 m: Pernici has been running well recently, as have the English and the French (including defending champion Tual), but Crestan is a championships runner with the question of what the shape of Attaoui is. Meet record 1:43.84 from 1978 under threat.
1500 m: Without Jakob, new champion from the group Habz, Farken, World champions Nader and Wightman. But at a slower pace, a surprise could happen.
5000 m: Jakob is here in his first race since Tokyo 25. Straight final. Gressier the favorite. Lobalu on paper. Kimeli is Tokyo medalist.
10 000 m: Gressier, Kimeli and Lobalu to double. It’s four days after 5 km. But Almgren and Crippa rested. The oldest CR here 27:30.99 from 1978.
Mar: 61 entries, Fitwi on paper, Ringer and Petros also making it top German influence. Strong teams from France and Israel. Meet record 2:09:51 in current marathon levels should go.
SC: In case Germans will go their pace (Ruppert and Bebendorf) they should be 1-2. If slow pace, could be wide open.
110mH: Hard to predict whether Kwaou-Mathey, Joseph, Diessl, or established champions Martinez/Llopis with Szymanski, or a surprise from Bacari?
400mH: Warholm looks like a safe bet. Agyekum for 2nd, more contenders for bronze.
HJ: Tamberi is the defender, but Doroshchuk’s last two meets were 233 and 232. Stefela World medalist, Sioli in shape.
PV: Mondo in his own field, setting sights at his CR 610. Karalis and Guttormsen with T. Collet for other medals.
LJ: Tentoglou for 4th gold in a row in top shape. Saraboyukov and Balde behind, what is the health situation of Ehammer and Furlani?
TJ: Andy Diaz leads the World lists. Pichardo has only one competition in Doha, but is winning. Dallavalle and Biasutti for bronze.
SP: Fabbri should be clear. Behind him several scenarios can happen. 6-7 candidates for remaining medals.
DT: Mykolas is unbeaten so far; Ceh has also top marks and is a defender. Stahl is always there; strong German and Dutch representation. First 70+ at Euros?
HT: 7 Europeans this year over 80 m. Chaussinand leads the list; Halasz and Kokhan are always good competitors; Fajdek has top experience; Hummel is the new kid on the block.
JT: July return of Weber made it clear, Vadlejch is defender, more contenders on 83+ level.
Dec: Neugebauer is the logical choice. Skotheim and Erm thin seasons. Kaul and Gletty usual medal threats, surprise from Jarvinen.
Half Mar walk: Debut of the new event, inaugural CR. Fortunato vs McGrath for gold.
Mar walk: No doubles possible, World champ Lopez, Olympic winner Stano, always strong Karlstrom. Another meet record.
4×100 m: Who can attack the Brits? For sure Italy, the Olympic winners from Tokyo. Maybe also Germany and the Netherlands.
4×400 m: Belgium going for 4th gold, but home team very strong. Next is France. Italy with Germany and Netherlands also there.
Women
100 m: Here, the clear favorite is missing. Based on accolades, Asher-Smith, Swoboda, Dosso. Coming down from 200 is Hunt; list leader Frey competed mainly at home.
200 m: This looks more for the British situation with Asher-Smith and Hunt. Defender Mujinga comes from maternity break.
400 m: Jaeger is unbeaten against European opponents. Manuel was competing well on the circuit; Bukowiecka is in the right time and in the right shape. We should not forget Klaver.
800 m: The most watched women’s event. Werro vs Hodgkinson vs Broeders-Bol. Meet record even older than WR, 1:55.41 from 1982.
1500 m: Hunter-Bell the top favorite. In a fast race, Guillemot and Kazimierska for other medals.
5000 m: Battocletti not in the shape of previous seasons, but still. Can somebody beat her?
10 000 m: Again Battocletti but also Koster, Keith, Van Lent.
Mar: This is very open. From Vainio to Teferi. From Ouhaddou to Königstein. From Harvey to McCormack.
SC: Thorner showed top shape at CG, Krause also determined. Defender Finot coming back. CR 9:11.31 might be under threat.
100mH: Visser and Skrzyszowska on top; would Ditaji be on time in shape?
400mH: Zapletalova ready for big day. Newnham at home, Couckuyt in shape and Iuel in final year.
HJ: Mahuchikh vs Topic. Zodzik attacking them.
PV: Heltela is back, Sutej aims high and Moser also there.
LJ: Mihambo and Iapichino followed by De Sousa and Kpatcha. That’s pretty much about medalists.
TJ: Another open event. Derkach to be mentioned, Spanovic, Petrova, Masson, simply several podium contenders.
SP: World champ Schilder in top position, Mabry and Swedish representatives, Inchude also improved.
DT: Unusual situation without Elkasevic. New champion possibly from the Netherlands (Van Klinken) and always strong German team.
HT: Finland hopes for celebration (Tervo and Kosonen), Fantini will be there, and legendary Wlodarczyk knows how to compete at the top event.
JT: Borge has the longest throw, Vilagos was the best on the DL circuit. Surprise from Hugli? Tzengo looking for shape.
Hep: Kalin vs Netherlands. Johnson-Thompson with O´Connor with top previous scores.
Half Mar walk: Palmisano vs Perez, top clash. Olyanovska to be watched. Meet record.
Mar walk: Fiorini has the top time, Giorgi top experience, Ntrismpioti and Zdzieblo some medals. Meet record.
4×100 m: Great Britain and Germany, dark horse Switzerland. Spain and Italy also there.
4×400 m: Netherlands listed Lieke and Femke, Poland as usual, Britain strong. Surprise from Norway or Czechia? Or Belgium with Spain and France?
Mixed
4×100 m: In debut, Britain and Germany for gold, straight final.
4×400 m: For the 2nd time at European Champs with only 8 teams. All strong, Norway with Jaeger and Warholm. But Britain and France even stronger, and Belgium. Defenders Ireland (3:09.92 CR) did not qualify.
MUNICH 2022 FLASHBACK
MEDALS (29 countries, +1)
GER 7-7-2, GBR 6-6-8, ESP 4-3-3, GRE 4-1-0, NED 4-0-2, POL 3-6-5, ITA 3-2-6, NOR 3-1-2
POINTS (35 countries, +2)
GBR 220, GER 197, ITA 142.5, ESP 132, POL 128, FRA 115, NED 99, SUI 69.5
TITLE DEFENDERS
yes (12): Ingebrigtsen 2x, Tentoglou, Perkovic, Hudson-Smith, Nowicki, Thiam, Muir, Warholm, Duplantis, A. Martin, GBR men x1
no (21): Salpeter, Haratyk, Guba, Naert, Hughes, Asher-Smith, Abele, Stefanidi, Swiety-Ersetic, Martinot-Lagarde, Przybylko, Mihambo, Gudzius, Guliyev, Asher-Smith, POL wom4x4, BEL men4x4, Krol, Perez, GBR wom 4×1, Rohler
nc (13): Mazuronak, Evora, Wlodarczyk, Hassan, Papahristou, Mekhissi, Sprunger, Krause, Hussong, Lasitskene, Kszczot, Amdouni, Herman
walks (2): new events
TOP MARKS
WL (2): Tentoglou, Nowicki
CR (13): Tentoglou, Jacobs, Drisbioti, Lopez, Murto, Ceh, Ingebrigtsen, Alekna, Bol, Warholm, Gega, Duplantis, GBR men 4×1
EL (8): Schilder, Bol, Martinez, Martinot-Lagarde, Bekh-Romanchuk, Warholm, NED wom 4×4, GBR men 4×1
CB (3): Ehammer LJ in decathlon, Kaul JT in decathlon, Thiam HJ in heptathlon
Spectators (no official figures only estimates for evenings): 15 000 (Monday) 40 000 (Tuesday), 30 000 (Wednesday), 20 000 (Thursday, rain postponement), 30 000 (Friday), Saturday (30 000), Sunday (40 000)
MULTI MEDALISTS
Bol 3-0-0, Hughes 2-1-0, Ingebrigtsen+Hudson-Smith+
AGENTS BY INDIVIDUAL GOLD MEDALS
Daniel Wessfeldt 5, Caroline Feith 3, Alfons Juck 2, Steffen Keil 2, Caroline Feith 2, Federico Rosa 2, Gianni Demadonna 2, Dave Klink, Valentina Fedyushina, Jurgen Arden, Marcello Magnani, Vera Michallek, Tero Heiska, Ricky Simms, Alberto Armas, Marc Corstjens, Marco Tamberi, Czeslaw Zapala, Helena Van der Plaetsen, Jasper Buitink, Norman Peart, Stale-Jan Froynes, Paul Doyle, Babis Vakalopoulos, Alberto Suarez, Aivar Karotamm, Miguel Mostaza, Carinne Knapp-Messerschmidt, Janusz Szydlowski. Polish winner of marathon and walking winners not having an agent, also Kaul in decathlon and Alekna in discus.
ROME 2024 FLASHBACK
GOLDEN CROWN (50 000 EUR)
Sprints & hurdles: Femke Bol (52.49) and Karsten Warholm (46.98)
Middle & long distance: Nadia Battocletti (5000m, 14:35.29) and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (1500m, 3:31.95)
Throws: Sandra Elkasević (67.04) and Leonardo Fabbri (22.45)
Jumps: Malaika Mihambo (722) and Armand Duplantis (610)
Road, combined events & relays: Nafissatou Thiam (6848) and Johannes Erm (8764)
MEDALS (28 countries)
ITA 11-9-4, FRA 4-5-7, GBR 4-4-5, NOR 4-2-1, SUI 4-1-4, NED 3-4-5, BEL 3-1-2, ESP 2-3-3, POL 2-2-2, IRL 2-2-0, SWE 2-0-1
POINTS (35 countries)
ITA 232, FRA 193, GER 163, GBR 138.5, ESP 127.5, NED 103, SUI 83, BEL 79, NOR 67, POL 65, SWE 53
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENDERS
Yes (16): Schilder, Tentoglou, Thiam, Ingebrigtsen (5000m+1500m), Jacobs, Elkasević, Mahuchikh, Nowicki, Warholm. Bol (400mH), Tamberi, Kambundji, NED (W4x400m), Hodgkinson, Duplantis
No (17): Ntrismpioti (20kmW), Alekna, Skrzyszowska, Martínez, Mihaljevic, Gega, Lückenkemper, Murto, Raitanen, Ghelber, Pichardo, Kaul, Tzengko, GBR (M4x100m+M4x400m), Weber, GER (W4x100m)
NC (11): Klosterhalfen, Martín, Bekh-Romanchuk, García, Muir, Hudson-Smith, Bol (400m), Hughes, Can, Španović, Crippa
TOP MARKS
WL (9+1): 841 LJ Ehammer, 3:09.92 mixed 4x400m Ireland, 6848 heptathlon Thiam, 12.31 100mH Samba-Mayela, 865 LJ Tentoglou, 18.18 TJ J.Díaz, 237 HJ Tamberi, 52.49 400mH Bol, 722 LJ Mihambo; outdoor WL 14.85 TJ Peleteiro-Compaoré
CR (15): 3:09.92 mixed 4x400m Ireland, 14:35.29 5000m Battocletti, 6848 heptathlon Thiam, 12.31 100mH Samba-Mayela, 865 LJ Tentoglou, 22.45 SP Fabbri, 1:01:03 half marathon Crippa, 1:08:09 half marathon Grovdal, 44.15 400m Doom, 46.98 400mH Warholm, 52.49 400mH Bol, 237 HJ Tamberi, 18.18 TJ J.Díaz, 3.31.95 1500m Ingebrigtsen, 610 PV Duplantis
U20WR (1): 838 LJ Furlani
EL (19+1): 841 LJ Ehammer, 3:09.92 mixed 4x400m Ireland, 6848 heptathlon Thiam, 12.43+12.31 100mH Samba-Mayela, 865 LJ Tentoglou, 13.20+13.05 110mH Simonelli, 14.85 TJ Peleteiro-Compaoré, 10.96 100m Asher-Smith, 9:16.22 Finot steeple, 48.98 400m Kaczmarek, 703 LJ Mihambo, 42.25 4x100m women GBR, 237 HJ Tamberi, 52.49 400mH Bol, 3:22.39 4x400m women NED, 2:59.84 4x400m men BEL, 37.82 4x100m men ITA; outdoor EL 201 Mahuchikh
U23ER (1): 12.40 100mH Kambundji
U20ER (1): 838 LJ Furlani
NR (37): 9 – ITA; 4 – POR; 3 – BEL, IRL; 2 – ESP, FRA; 1 – AUT, CRO, CZE, EST, FIN, HUN, LUX, MKD, NOR, POL, SLO, SUI, SWE, TUR
AGENTS (individual gold medals)
5 – Daniel Wessfeldt; 4 – Marcello Magnani 3 – Florian Clivaz, Alfons Juck; 2 – Caroline Feith, Federico Rosa, Ricky Simms, Benjamin Soreau; 1- René Auguin, Tom Bosworth, Gianni Demadonna, Stale-Jan Froynes, Aivar Karotamm, Marius Kranendonk, Carine Messerschmidt, Miguel Mostaza, Marc Osenberg, Riad Ouled, Jose Praia, Marcin Rosergarten, Lina Simons, Alberto Suarez, Hans Uurike, Kim Vanderlinden, Lukas Wieland, Czeslaw Zapala. Palmisano has no agent.
