It’s time for the fifth day of the championships on Friday (14), and we’re about to witness one of the biggest highlights of the entire week.
A three-way battle awaits in the women’s 800m – will Keely Hodgkinson win on home soil? Will Werro prove once again that she delivers when it matters most? Or can Femke Bol pull off a surprise?
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Here are my picks for Day 5…
Women’s Heptathlon
1. Sofie Dokter (Netherlands)
2. Annik Kälin (Switzerland)
3. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Great Britain)
It’s an open field, with Dokter and Kälin looking like the leading contenders. Kälin has been Europe’s best this year, while Dokter heads into the championships on the back of some strong performances indoors.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson is the ultimate wildcard. Her best is good enough to win gold, but her limited competition this season and the question marks over her form make her difficult to predict.
Women’s 10,000m
1. Nadia Battocletti (Italy)
2. Megan Keith (Great Britain)
3. Jana Van Lent (Belgium)
Battocletti won the 5000m in convincing fashion and looks very difficult to beat. Keith set a British 10km road record indoors and most recently won a medal in the 5000m at the Commonwealth Games. Van Lent has one of the fastest season’s bests in the field and is yet to compete at these championships.
Men’s High Jump
1. Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukraine)
2. Matteo Sioli (Italy)
3. Kimani Jack (Great Britain)
Doroshchuk has both the best season’s best and personal best in the field and won world gold indoors this winter. 20-year-old Sioli has won two Diamond League meetings this year, while Kimani Jack could cap an outstanding season with a European medal. The 22-year-old Briton has improved by 10 centimetres this year and comes into the final fresh from winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
Women’s Discus Throw
1. Jorinde van Klinken (Netherlands)
2. Alida van Daalen (Netherlands)
3. Vanessa Kamga (Sweden)
After winning three silver medals and one bronze at major championships, it could finally be time for van Klinken to stand on top of the podium. She is the only athlete in the field to have thrown beyond 70 metres this year.
Closest behind her is fellow Dutchwoman van Daalen, who has enjoyed a strong season. Kamga has been consistent this year and impressed in qualifying. The Swede is chasing her first international medal.
Men’s 400m Hurdles
1. Karsten Warholm (Norway)
2. Oskar Edlund (Sweden)
3. Emil Agyekum (Germany)
European powerhouse Warholm is chasing his fourth consecutive European title in the event and comes into the final as the only athlete in the field to have broken 47 seconds.
Edlund impressed in the semi-finals, setting a Swedish record and breaking 48 seconds for the first time. Agyekum set a German record earlier this year and is chasing his first individual major championship medal.
Men’s 200m
1. Zharnel Hughes (Great Britain)
2. Owen Ansah (Germany)
3. Eseosa Fostine Desalu (Italy)
Zharnel Hughes looked impressive in the semi-finals, winning his race in 20.05, but he will face a strong challenge from Owen Ansah, who also impressed in the semis. Desalu has long been an important part of the Italian relay team and could now claim his first individual European medal.
Women’s 800m
1. Audrey Werro (Switzerland)
2. Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain)
3. Femke Broeders-Bol (Netherlands)
Drama struck in the semi-finals when Werro fell but was ultimately reinstated by the judges. Perhaps the highlight of the championships so far. Werro has dominated throughout the season, and I expect her to do so again today. Keely Hodgkinson should take silver, with Femke Bol claiming bronze.
Ones to Watch
Adrianna Sułek-Schubert – The Polish heptathlete has shown signs that she is returning to the high level she reached earlier in her career.
Maureen Koster – One of two runners in the 10,000m field to have broken 31 minutes this year. However, she does not come into the race with a 5000m race in her legs, which could count against her.
Gianmarco Tamberi – Two years ago, the Italian defended his European title in Roma 2024 as the defending world champion. Since then, however, he has failed to win a medal at a major international championship. Can the veteran champion rediscover his best in what looks like an open final?
Matic Ian Guček – The Slovenian 400m hurdler set a national record in the semi-finals. He has an impressive junior record, including a World U20 silver medal in the event, but is yet to win a senior international medal.
Timothé Mumenthaler – The Swiss 200m sprinter set a personal best to reach the final with the fourth-fastest time. He is in excellent form.
Bonus Question: What will be the winning time in the women’s 800m final?
There is plenty to suggest that this will be a fast final. Werro is third on the all-time list and Hodgkinson sixth, while Broeders-Bol is also lurking behind them – and neither of the two favourites will want to take her on in a sprint.
My prediction: 1:54.50
Katharine Merry is an Olympic 400m bronze medallist and a respected athletics commentator and presenter