Great Britain and Italy look most impressive in both women’s and men’s 4x100m heats as they take top two spots for the finals Saturday (15) evening.
In summary:
- Italy lead women’s 4x100m while Great Britain qualify fastest for the men
- Spain fumble final changeover for women and men
- Three national records set in women's heats
Italy stunned in the women’s 4x100m heats with 42.22, just shy of their national record of 42.14, to confidently secure the fastest qualifying time ahead of the final.
Great Britain’s team, which included double European champion Amy Hunt, took second in the first heat with 42.37 and qualify second fastest for the final.
Portugal took the third automatic qualifying spot with a national record of 43.06, narrowly beating Ireland to the line who also ran a national record of 43.13 to take a non-automatic qualifying spot.
But the second heat saw the painfully familiar chaos of a relay as in the final changeover Spain and Germany dropped the baton while Greece were unable to handover in time, leaving just five teams to finish the race.
Switzerland stormed to a 42.38 win, anchored by summer and winter Olympian Salomé Kora, qualifying third fastest overall.
Ewa Swoboda crossed the line in second place for Poland in 42.63, while Hungary took the third spot with a 42.84 national record with the quartet screaming in celebration after crossing the line.
Belgium were the fourth team to finish in the dramatic second heat and took one of the non automatic qualifying spots in 42.98, qualifying sixth fastest overall.
However in the men’s 4x100m it was Great Britain that snagged the top spot with 38.29 in the first heat to qualify fastest, while Italy ran in the second heat clocking 38.50 to qualifying in second overall.
There was no holding back from the British quartet who fielded Europe’s newest 100m champion and silver medallist, Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu, Friday’s (14) 200m silver medallist Zharnel Hughes, and former NCAA champion Louie Hinchliffe.
In the first heat, Spain were challenging the home favourites until they dropped the baton on the final changeover, mimicking the women who did the same just 20 minutes earlier.
However, the Netherlands finished in 38.82 for second in the heat and fourth overall, while Greece ran 39.17 to finish third and rank seventh overall.
Germany were in close pursuit of the speedy Italian team, and finished just behind them qualifying in third fastest with 38.57.
Belgium took the last auto qualifying spot in 38.84, while Ireland and Poland ran 39.13 and 39.17 respectively to take the non-automatic qualifying spots.