Records tumbled across the programme at the fifth edition of the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti from 16-19 July.
The four days were highlighted by three European U18 bests as well as one European U20 record with 16-year-old Linda Botková taking ownership of both records with a 55.19 clocking in the 400m hurdles final.
Her time shattered the long-standing European U18 best of 56.01 which had stood to Bulgaria’s Radostina Shtereva since the 1983 European Athletics U20 Championships and puts her second on the world U18 all-time list behind two-time Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with 54.15. Botková remains eligible for the U18 ranks all the way through 2027 as well.
Other record-breaking feats were achieved by Italian favourite Kelly Doualla who timed her peak to perfection by winning the women’s 100m final in 11.14 to break her European U18 best while Eljahro Philipsen became the first European to break the 13 second-barrier in the 110m hurdles (91.4cm) with a 12.96 clocking in the heats.
In fact, Wilhem Belocian's previous European U18 best of 13.12 was bettered four times across the course of the championships with Türkiye's Yunus Emre Civelek winning the title in 13.08 by 0.01 from Philipsen.
Championship records (18)
Men
100m - Divine Iheme (GBR) 10.29
200m - Bronson Hearn-Smith (GBR) 20.70
200m - Ethan Heggarty (GBR) 20.77 (heat)
110m hurdles - Eljahro Philipsen (NED) 12.96 (heat)
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 1:51.44
High jump - Samuel James (GBR) 2.25m
Triple jump - Tito Odunaike (GBR) 16.12m
Discus throw - Moyo Stumpenhusen (GBR) 64.92m
Women
100m - Kelly Doualla (ITA) 11.14
800m - Živa Remic (SLO) 2:03.77
800m - Živa Remic (SLO) 2:04.19 (semifinal)
3000m - Aimie Decrausaz (SUI) 9:06.60
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 55.19
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 56.78 (semifinal)
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 56.79 (heat)
Pole vault - Julie Bourgis (FRA) 4.40m
Long jump - Kristýna Záhorová (CZE) 6.47m
Triple jump - Viktoria Angelova (BUL) 13.98m
European U18 bests (3)
Men
110m hurdles - Eljahro Philipsen (NED) 12.96
Women
100m - Kelly Doualla (ITA) 11.14
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 55.19
European U20 records (1)
Women
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 55.19
World U18 leads (13)
Men
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 1:51.44
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 1:52.11 (heat)
High jump - Samuel James (GBR) 2.25m
Triple jump - Tito Odunaike (GBR) 16.12m
Hammer throw - Josef Pazdera (CZE) 79.07m
Javelin throw - Jere Murto (FIN) 80.41m
Decathlon - Sebastián Andrejev (CZE) 7523
Women
100m - Kelly Doualla (ITA) 11.14
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 55.19
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 2:05.65
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 2:07.62 (heat)
Triple jump - Viktoria Angelova (BUL) 13.98m
Heptathlon - Alisa Launonen (FIN) 6154
European U18 leads (25)
Men
100m - Divine Iheme (GBR) 10.29
400m - Sebastian Karp (SVK) 46.53
110m hurdles - Eljahro Philipsen (NED) 12.96 (heat)
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 1:51.44
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 1:52.11 (heat)
Pole vault - Jonathan Hummel (GER) 5.15m
Long jump - Pyry Heiskanen (FIN) 7.79m
Long jump - Maidis Gorrillot (FRA) 7.78m (qualification)
Triple jump - Tito Odunaike (GBR) 16.12m
High jump - Samuel James (GBR) 2.25m
Hammer throw - Josef Pazdera (CZE) 79.07m
Javelin Throw - Jere Murto (FIN) 80.41m
Decathlon - Sebastián Andrejev (CZE) 7523
Women
100m - Kelly Doualla (ITA) 11.14
400m - Eleni Iakovaki (GRE) 52.38
3000m - Aimie Decrausaz (SUI) 9:06.60
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 55.19
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 56.78 (semifinal)
400m hurdles - Linda Botková (CZE) 56.79 (heat)
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 2:05.65
Sprint medley relay (1000m) - Czechia (CZE) 2:07.62 (heat)
Long jump - Kristýna Záhorová (CZE) 6.47m
Triple jump - Viktoria Angelova (BUL) 13.98m
Hammer throw - Milaniia Kokhan (UKR) 70.19m
Heptathlon - Alisa Launonen (FIN) 6154
National senior records (1)
Men
100m - Dion Binakaj (KOS) 10.76
Championship decathlon best (1)
Discus - Sebastián Andrejev (CZE) 48.60m
