Poland grabbed a thrilling win in the closing event of the Madrid 2025 on Sunday (29), the 4x400m mixed relay as Natalia Buckowiecka’s final leg overcame Italy’s led for much of the race.
The Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships 1st Division is live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of the Eurovision Sport Platform.
With a strong close, Italy’s Edoardo Scotti was the first lead off runner to pass the baton after a powerful leg timed at 44.8 while Poland’s Maksymilian Szwed (45.2) and Great Britain’s Samuel Reardon (45.3) travelled in hot pursuit.
Boosted by her pole position Virginia Troiani, a 51.06 specialist, posted a fantastic second leg in 49.8 to extend the Italian’s lead to a full second over Poland (1:34.6 vs 1:35.6) with Spain (1:36.0) in third thanks to Blanca Hervás’ 50.1 brisk leg.
By then, Great Britain’s travelled in fourth (1:36.2) but an awesome leg of 43.6 signed by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games 4x400 bronze medallist Toby Harries put the Britons in contention barely two hundreds behind Italy at the bell (2:19.6/2:19.8) while Spain ran in third in 2.20.4 for Poland’s 2.20.7.
The anchor leg proved to be full of excitement and drama as Great Britain’s Emily Newnham passed Italy’s Alice Mangione with 250m left and Poland’s reigning European champion Natalia Bukowiecka overtook Spain’s Paula Sevilla with impressive ease to rapidly close the gap with Great Britain and Italy.
The three countries facing the home straight virtually even; finally, Bukowiecka’s stunning leg of 48.73 prevailed, to give Poland maximum points thanks to a 3:09.43 performance, a championships record.
Italy and Great Britain were given the same time, just 0.23 adrift, with the Italian’s being awarded second on the photo finish. Poland, Italy and fourth-placed Spain (3:10.48) set respective national records.