World record holder Mykolas Alekna and reigning champion Kristjan Ceh both secured their spots in the men’s discus final with just one throw as they threw 67.74m and 67.52m respectively.
In summary
- Mykolas Alekna and Kristjan Ceh ease through to the men’s discus final
- British duo only jumpers to set clean scorecard in men’s high jump qualifying
- Medal hopes Steven Richter in discus and Jan Stefela in high jump out
However, three-time world champion Daniel Ståhl took all three throws with a best of 63.95m to top the standings in group A, but it seemed the whole first group were down on distances.
2026 European leader, Steven Richter of Germany, was one of those in the first group and he narrowly misses out on the final after throwing a best of 62.02m despite boasting a PB from April of 74.00m which was set in Ramona.
2022 European champion Mykolas Alekna will be joined by his brother Martynas Alekna and 2018 European champion and 2017 world champion, Andrius Gudžius both also from Lithuania.
Germany will still have representation in the final as Henrik Janssen threw 65.42m to qualify in third, while Austria’s Lukas Weisshaidinger qualified in fourth with 65.06m as he looks to make a second consecutive podium after taking silver in Rome.
While in the high jump, Gianmarco Tamberi returned to defend his title but this time not as the favourite due to Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk’s hold of the European lead with 2.33m as both secured spots in the final.
Many of the most likely medal contenders safely made it through into the final, but Czechia’s Jan Stefela, who took bronze in Tokyo last year and had cleared 2.32m this year, will not progress through after measuring his best height at just 2.19m.
Tamberi will be joined in the final by three fellow Italians as Matteo Sioli, Edoardo Stronati, and Christian Falocchi all qualified.
However just two athletes qualified for the final with a clean scorecard, Great Britain’s Kimani Jack and Joel Clarke-Khan as the pair cleared all heights including 2.23m first time, lighting up the home crowd who watched on.