The Netherlands took their first gold of the European Athletics U18 Championships with Emma le Blansch throwing beyond her previous PB three times to win the women's shot put title with a big PB of 17.76m.
In second place was Poland’s Kinga Jackowska who threw 17.50m in the fourth round while Hungary’s Zsofi Marton took the bronze with a national U18 record of 17.35m.
Le Blansch’s time in Rieti is far from over just yet, as she will compete in the discus on Saturday (18) after qualifying for the final in third-place overall.
“It is amazing, I am out of words, I cannot describe my feelings,” le Blansch said.
“I focused on a good first round, so I could relax a bit and then I did this big PB in my fifth attempt. I knew it was in me because I trained so much and so well. I am training also a lot of sprints which helps me in the shot put.
“I am happy to compete with athletes that are so strong because this helps me and it pushes me. This championship was really fun for me.”
Jackowska entered the championships as the only athlete to have thrown over 18 metres this season and she sealed a European silver medal with her fourth round throw despite dealing with the after-effects of a bout of heatstroke after yesterday's qualifying round.
"I really did not expect to win a medal today because it was a bad day yesterday. My head was exploding, I got a heat stroke and was throwing up. Mentally, I felt ready, but because of the sun, I felt bad. But I have good people around me and they helped me very much. I feel so thankful - without them, there would be no medal today," said the silver medallist.
Only 15 and the youngest athlete in the field, Marton took Hungary’s first medal in Rieti with a national U18 record, improving her PB by nearly 10 centimetres.
Mejrema Barucija of Bosnia and Herzegovina also threw a national U18 record with a big PB of 16.34m in the second round to finish a highly creditable sixth.
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