World record holder Karsten Warholm stayed on course for his fourth successive title in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Having already won gold with his Norwegian teammates in the mixed 4x400m, the 30-year-old could be set for his best-ever European Athletics Championships.
In summary...
- Warholm impresses in semifinal win to stay on track for fourth title
- Edlund sets new Swedish record
- World silver medallist van Klinken books place in women’s discus final
The former Olympic and world champion looked to have plenty in reserve as he won heat 3 in 48.01.
But the qualifiers for Friday’s (14) final were topped by Sweden’s European U23 bronze medallist Oskar Edlund, who won heat 1 in a national record of 47.81. Germany’s Emil Agyekum was the other semifinal winner, taking heat 2 in 48.17.
van Klinken safely through to discus final
World silver medallist Jorinde van Klinken was untroubled in the women’s discus qualifiers.
The Dutch athlete, who has already banked a silver medal in the women’s shot put at these championships, unleashed an opening throw of 62.74m to automatically guarantee her place in Friday’s (14) final.
She took silver behind Sandra Elkasevic two years ago at Roma 2024 and, with the Croatian great absent, she will be hopeful of taking her first major title in Birmingham 2026.
Also progressing were Roma 2024 bronze medallist Lillian Ca of Portugal with a best of 61.86m, evergreen Olympic, world and European silver medallist Melina Robert-Michon of France with 60.89m, and Sweden’s Olympic and world finalist Vanessa Kamga, who led the qualifiers with 64.65m.
In the sprint disciplines, the top 12 ranked athletes are given a bye through to the semifinals. But there were 12 further places up for grabs from the women’s 200m and 400m heats.
In the 200m heats, Hungarian record holder Boglárka Takács led the qualifiers, winning heat 1 in 22.84 (-0.9m/s).
European indoor bronze medallist Paula Sevilla of Spain was among those progressing over one lap. She finished second to the Netherlands’ Eveline Saalberg in heat 1 by 0.13 in 51.78.