In cold conditions, Sondre Guttormsen cleared 6.00m in the pole vault on the second day of the Norwegian Championships in Trondheim on Friday (24) evening.
Having cleared 5.47m, 5.62m and 5.87m each time on his first attempt, Guttormsen raised the bar to 6.00m and the 2023 European indoor champion went clear on his second attempt.
This was the fourth time Guttormsen has broken the 6.00m barrier in the pole vault but the first time he has achieved this feat outdoors as he builds towards the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships where he will target his first major outdoor medal.
"I didn't think he would make it. I'm a little emotional because it's unbelievably high. Plus, it's only 13 degrees," said his coach and father Atle as quoted by NRK.
Pal Haugen Lillefosse cleared 5.47m to finish second with 2025 world and European indoor heptathlon champion Sander Skotheim clearing 5.00m as he prepares for the decathlon in Birmingham next month.
Three-time European champion Karsten Warholm powered to a 47.14 clocking in the 400m hurdles.
Close to 7.00m in the long jump for Kpatcha in Albi
Hilary Kpatcha won a high quality women’s long jump on the first day of the French Championships in Albi on Friday.
Kpatcha produced a winning jump of 6.98m in the fifth round for victory ahead of 2016 world U20 champion Yanis David who had led with a second round mark of 6.86m. For Kpatcha, this was just three centimetres shy of her lifetime best while for David, her mark improves her lifetime best which had dated back to 2019.
Kpatcha moves to third on the 2026 European list behind European outdoor champion Malaika Mihambo (7.05m) and European indoor champion Larissa Iapichino (7.12m).
Reigning European champion Alice Finot continued her comeback from injury with victory in the 3000m steeplechase in 9:26.74 and Isabelle Black, the daughter of 1986 and 1990 European champion Roger, ran a lifetime best and championship record of 50.47 in the heats of the 400m to move to third on the French all-time list.
Meanwhile, Melina Robert-Michon’s incredible reign in the discus came to an end. The 47-year-old was beaten for the first time at the French Championships this century as she finished second to Amanda Ngandu-Ntumba - 60.47m to 56.69m.
Wind-aided 8.42m long jump for Balde in Lisbon
Reigning world indoor champion Gerson Balde recorded a wind-assisted 8.42m (+3.8) in the long jump on the first day of the Portuguese Championships in Lisbon.
Balde recorded that mark in the third round before retiring from the remainder of the competition.
Fatoumata Diallo won a competitive women’s 400m hurdles in 54.46 ahead of joint national record-holder Sofia Lavreshina in 54.69 and 2025 world indoor 800m bronze medallist Patricia Silva stepped up in distance to win the 5000m in 15:22.48.
Elsewhere around Europe…
At the Spanish Championships in Malaga, European 20km race walk silver medallist Paul McGrath won the 10,000m race walk title in a European leading time of 38:23.52.
McGrath will be contesting the half marathon race walk in Birmingham next month.
Ewa Swoboda won the women’s 100m at the Polish Championships in Białystok in 11.05 while European U23 champion Maciej Megier won the 3000m steeplechase title in 8:24.11.
Fanny Roos won the shot put at the Swedish Championships with a meeting record of 19.37m ahead of world indoor bronze medallist Axelina Johansson with 19.15m.
World bronze medallist and multiple European record-holder Andreas Almgren won the 10,000m in a solo 28:49.73.