Serbia’s European medallists Angelina Topić and Adriana Vilagos, plus European indoor champion Bozhidar Sarâboyukov of Bulgaria all impressed in field qualification rounds at the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships on Thursday (17).
Bergen 2025 is being live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of the Eurovision Sport Platform.
Topic on track for age-group triple
Already three-times a European women’s high jump medallist at senior level indoors and outdoors, Topić is going for a full set of European age group titles, having won U18 gold and U20 gold at Jerusalem 2022 and Jerusalem 2023.
The Serbian stayed on course, navigating the qualifying round with a first time clearance at 1.81m enough to progress.
Also, through to Saturday’s final is Sweden’s European indoor bronze medallist Engla Nilsson after a nervy qualification which required three attempts at 1.77m, before she gathered her composure to clear 1.81m at the first attempt.
Apeldoorn 2025 winner Sarâboyukov looking ahead
European indoor champion Sarâboyukov put down a clear marker of intent in the men’s long jump, landing at 8.13m (0.0m/s) to head the men’s long jump qualifiers for Friday’s final.
“I am satisfied with this performance, tomorrow I would like to achieve a new PB,” said the Bulgarian. “These championships are the main goal for me this summer. But I will try to get a good result in Tokyo, too. I totally forgot about Apeldoorn. I only think about future events and goals and I do not look back.”
The women’s triple jump qualifiers were led by Türkiye’s Kadriye Dilek Durmus with a second round leap of 13.79m, which would have been a huge personal best, but for a 2.5m/s following wind.
Vilagos through at first attempt
Twice European medallist at senior level, Vilagoš of Serbia safely progressed through the women’s javelin qualifiers with a first round throw of 58.64m to lead the field to Friday’s final.
“It was quite an easy qualification - the main goal was to get into the final with the first throw,” she said. “We did it, so now, it is the time to train a little bit and focus on the final.
“This is a very nice weather for the javelin throw and I felt very good at this stadium. There is a good atmosphere. I hope that I will manage a good throw over here.”
Top ranked Finn Eemil Porvari led the men’s javelin qualifiers with 80.26m.
Sprints finalists decided
In the 100m semifinals, Italy’s Gaya Bertello was the surprise fastest qualifier for Friday’s women’s final, winning in 11.44 (-1.8m/s). The first semifinal was won by Czechia’s European indoor 60m finalist Karolína Manasová in 11.49 (-1.3m/s).
Great Britain’s Faith Akinbileje, the 2022 European U18 200m champion, made a poor start in the first semifinal, but came surging through to book her place behind Manasová in 11.515
The men’s qualifiers for Saturday’s final were headed by sub-10 second runner Jeff Erius of France, who won heat two in 10.28 (-1.0m/s), 0.02 ahead of Nsikak Ekpo, a member of the Dutch 4x100m team who won silver at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
2023 European U20 champion Enzo Diessl was the most impressive in the men’s 110m hurdles heats, heading the qualifiers with 13.44 (-0.1m/s), winning heat three easing down.
In the women’s 100m hurdles heats, Poland’s Alicja Sielska qualified fastest, winning heat one in 13.13 (-1.3m/s). Hungary’s Anna Tóth, bronze medallist two years ago at Espoo 2023, also booked her place in Friday’s semi finals, winning heat four in 13.28 (-1.5m/s).