European leader Audrey Werro proved her world class credentials with a dominant victory in the women’s 800m with a huge championship record of 1:57.42.
Bergen 2025 is being live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
The Swiss athlete stamped her authority right from the gun, going to the front, setting a searing pace and challenging the field to go with her. None could.
She completed the first lap in 56.97 with Türkiye’s Dilek Koçak and Italy’s Ngalula Gloria Kabangu desperately trying to stay in contention. But there was no let up on the final lap as she lengthened her lead. By 600 metres, Kocak dropped out and Kabangu also began to fade.
As the Swiss supporters clanged their cow bells, Werro strode further away on the home straight taking gold and slashing 1.52 from Yelena Kofanova’s 16-year-old championship record.
Spain’s Rocio Arroyo and Britain’s Abigail Ives fought out silver, a battle that Arroyo won by 0.59 in a national U23 record of 1:59.18.
"I am really happy about the competition," said Werro. "My goal was to have a gold medal. I also had a great time here in Bergen so I am very grateful. The race went as planned. I tried to go faster and faster all the time. There was a lot of intensity in the race as all the girls have quite similar personal bests."
Monumental battle for steeplecase gold
Ilona Mononen demonstrated real grit as she won 3000m steeplechase gold for Finland, after a monumental battle with Spain’s Marta Serrano over the final lap.
Fresh from winning at the Madrid 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships, the 21-year-old was favoured to add to the 3000m gold she took at the Tallinn 2021 European Athletics U20 Championships, but she was pushed to her limits.
After 2k, the lead pack was reduced to four with Turkyie’s Pelinsu Sahin and Germany’s Adia Budde on the shoulder of Mononen and Serrano, who led most of the way.
As the foursome entered the final lap, Sahin was the first to crack and as they moved down the back straight, Mondonen and Serrano moved clear of Budde too.
The Finn and the Spaniard ran in lock step to the water jump, but the Finn emerged from the dousing with a slight lead. But Serrano re-took the lead as they headed to the final barrier.
As in Madrid, Mononen dug into her reserves and found a little extra to edge clear for gold in 9:30.49. Serrano was 0.25 behind for silver and Budde took bronze in a personal best of 9:32.14.
"The gold means so much for me as I have just discovered a new event in track and field, which is the steeplechase, and I immediately well in love with it after last year," said Mononen.
"The race went pretty well. We started the season a little bit slower to focus on the World (Championships). I feel like I am learning new things all the time with this race, new tactics etc. It's interesting for me and we will see what the future brings."
