The record books were rewritten at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica on Saturday (20) as Italy did a 200m double and Poland pulled off a 400m double, all four races in championship best performances.
In the women’s 200m, Italy’s Elisa Valensin had looked perfectly at home all championships, and she proved it in the final with a searing display of sustained speed. Running from lane seven, she faced a bold challenge from her 15-year-old Italian teammate Margherita Castellani into the home straight.
But with 60 metres to go, she pulled clear and ran to gold in 23.09 (+1.0m/s), improving her own European U18 lead by 0.06 and taking 0.26 off six year old championship best previously held by France’s Marine Mignon from the inaugural edition of the championships in 2016.
Silver medallist Castellani was also rewarded with a fine personal best of 23.35, whilst Germany’s Pauline Richter won bronze in a personal best of 23.50.
“It means a lot for me being the first,” said Valensin afterwards. “I am happy I am first and my friend from Italy, Margherita Castellani is second.
“It has been the most beautiful race in my life. I am very proud of myself, I love this stadium and the atmosphere is very good. I am excited for the last day, our girls are really fast and I expect a good result in the relay tomorrow.
"I cannot wait to run with Margherita, not against her. I think Italian girls will take more medals than boys from this championships!”
Nappi follows golden lead of Valensin
In the men’s 200m, it looked up for grabs in the home straight with Diego Nappi locked together with Sweden’s Ivano Bevanda and Italian teammate Fabrizio Caporusso. But with 50 metres to go, Nappi went up a gear and left the field in his wake to win gold in 20.81 (+0.7m/s).
Bevanda hung on for silver in a personal best of 21.17 and Ireland’s Joel Burke finished fast, clocking 21.31 for a new national U18 best and just edging out Caprusso for bronze by 0.02.
"This is so emotional," said Nappi afterwards. "The championships record is very important to me. In the semifinals, I ran easy but in the final, I gave it all and wanted to repeat my record and to do it well.
"Filippo Tortu called me a few weeks ago, he is my idol, I love him and he is an inspiration for me. The senior team is a big inspiration for us and we watch them competing every time they compete."
Nappi, 16, broke Tortu's Italian U18 200m best in the build-up to Banska Bystrica and there are definitely similarities in their respective form.
Emerging Polish talents dominate one-lap finals
The future of Polish 400m running looks in good hands after Stanisław Strzelecki and Anastazja Kus landed a one lap double.
Heavily favoured ahead of the championships, Kus delivered on all expectations in the women’s race. She ran confidently from lane five, keep British rival Kara DaCosta within her sights in lane seven.
Although DaCosta seemed to have the advantage with 150 metres to go, Kus began to power past as they came into the finish straight.
Kus kept the heat on right through to the line finishing in 51.89, taking a chunky 0.77 off Czechia’s Barbora Malíková previous record from Gyor 2018 and setting a new national U18 best. DaCosta dug in for silver in a personal best of 53.60.
The Netherlands’ Madelief van Leur held off the fast finishing Frenchwoman Victoria Kwarteng by 0.11 to take bronze in 53.19.
“I was thinking about the gold medal, but I didn't expect such time, national record and a championship record,” said Kus afterwards. “I didn't think that at this age I will break the 52 seconds barrier. We have a lot of great 400m runners in Poland, people have high expectations from the team at the Olympics in the relays.”
In the men’s race, Strzelecki ran a perfectly even paced race from lane seven to take gold in a championship record of 46.50. Immediately inside him, Ireland’s Conor Kelly went off quickly and France’s Milann Klemenic, who clocked a European U18 lead of 47.04 in the semifinals came on strong as they headed into the finishing straight.
But Strzelecki remained tunnel visioned and kept his form, running strong to the finish, lopping 0.73 from his previous best time and seizing the European U18 lead. Klemenic faded towards the finish, but still held on for silver and new personal best of 46.78. Kelly’s bravery was rewarded with bronze and a national U18 best of 46.97.
“I’m still shocked!” admitted the Pole afterwards. “I didn't feel good before the start, it was a third very hard 400m run here and somehow, I could not sleep well last night. I had to convince myself I was capable to do it. And I did it.
“My focus at the end was only on the Frenchman, I pushed myself meter by meter and convinced myself that I can do it. I wanted to give all from me. I am happy I could bring a medal to Poland. It is unbelievable, I am a European champion.”
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics