Banska Bystrica 2024 – Daily Round up Day 3: Italians and Poles land sprint doubles in championship best performances
Italy won both 200m titles through Diego Nappi and Elisa Valensin and Poland won both 400m titles through Stanislaw Strzelecki and Anastazja Kus as all four set new championship best performances, on a brilliant day for sprinting at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica. In the field, there was also a first ever gold for an Irish male athlete at the championships through Thomas Williams in the men’s hammer, as Pietro Villa improved by over seven metres to win a surprise gold in the men’s javelin, putting Italy at the top of the medal table with five golds.
5 Championships bests (Diego NAPPI, ITA in the 200 Metres – 21.01, Diego NAPPI, ITA in the 200 Metres – 20.81, Stanisław STRZELECKI, POL in the 400 Metres – 46.50, Elisa VALENSIN, ITA in the 200 Metres – 23.09, Anastazja KUŚ, POL in the 400 Metres – 51.89)
3 World U18 Leading performances (Great Britain U18, GBR in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 2:10.20, Switzerland U18, SUI in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 2:09.15, Poland U18, POL in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 2:08.49)
9 European U18 Leading performances (Stanisław STRZELECKI, POL in the 400m – 46.50,
Michal RADA, CZE in the 400mH (0.84) – 50.97, Italy U18, ITA in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 1:53.91, Elisa VALENSIN, ITA in the 200m – 23.09, Anastazja KUŚ, POL in the 400m – 51.89, Nadjela WEPIWE, GER in the Discus Throw – 53.13, Great Britain U18, GBR in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 2:10.20, Switzerland U18, SUI in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 2:09.15, Poland U18, POL in the Sprint Medley 1000m – 2:08.49)
24 National U18 bests
149 Personal bests
Quote of the day – Ivano Bevanda, SWE
„Before coming here, I was like 25th and I came here just to have fun. My coach believed in me and told me that I can take it far, that I need to believe in myself. I just want to go home and hug my mum. That is everything I want now. She is in Sweden now, she could not come because we have a cat, and someone had to take care of it. She is my biggest fan.“
All you need to know for Day 4 Toul and Barbic target golden doubles on final day
A massive fourteen gold medals are up for grabs as the championships come to a thrilling climax. Among those to watch are Czechia’s Filip Toul, who will be trying to add 3000m gold to the 1500m gold he won on Saturday. Plus, Vita Barbaric is tackling a unique throwing double in the women’s discus and javelin finals. The medley relay finals are also sure to ignite the crowd for one final time in Banska Bystrica.