Five Takeaways from Day 2
Great to see Aikaterini Stefanidi in the Pole Vault qualifying at the age of 36. She is a former World, Olympic, and twice European Champion with a PR of 4.91. She medaled at five consecutive European Championships (2014-2024). I have always found her a most engaging interviewee. I remember being on a pole vault workshop with her and hearing her say that she will never stop pole-vaulting. When she can no longer compete at elite level, she will simply drop down to a lower standard. In the qualifying, it was three jumps, three successes, and through to the final.
Nadia Battocletti is simply the best female distance runner in Europe. Tonight was her third European gold medal. She has also taken world silver and bronze, Olympic silver and world indoor gold. At 26, she has arguably the best years of her career ahead of her.
After just the prelims, the women’s 800m looks the event of the week with the semis on Thursday and the final on Friday. The standard of the European Championships is variable, but the women’s 800 would grace any meet with three superstars of our sport. Keely Hodgkinson is the favorite, but Audrey Werro beat her in Stockholm even though Keely ran a national record. Then there is Femke Broeders-Bol in her first season in the new event. (See separate post on the women’s 800 prelims).
Great for the host nation to qualify three athletes for the men’s 100m final. Unfortunately, Louie Hinchcliffe had to withdraw with an injury sustained in the semi, so GB had to settle for gold and silver. Rommel Glave, bronze medal, 4 years ago, took gold with Jeremiah Azu second.
Disappointing crowds. This evening tickets cost $35-$150 across five categories. From tomorrow onwards, the most expensive tickets are $200. That is a lot more than the cost of a seat at the London Diamond League for a significantly higher standard program or for a Premier League soccer game.
