Day TWO highlights | Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships

Boyakov, European Indoor Champion, the Bulgarian driving, looking to be the first man over 8 metres and that, well, that will breach the 8 metre mark for the first time in this competition. Launching himself so far forward, there's not any more room in the pit really for him to go. Swings the arms, great hang time, brings his legs round. G's at the crowd, does a backflip. Well, is that job done for the title? No one else has gone over 8 metres yet and, well, he's just 1 centimetre shy of his personal best. Well, here we go, 5th round. Erwan Qunate in this men's long jump final. And it's big, it's really big. Is it enough to challenge the lead? Well, he was down in 6th. Pace power as he hits the board, translates that into upward and directional momentum. Perfect on the board, you can't get any closer than that. Now, where does Qunate land? It's 8 metres 25. He smashed his personal best and he set a new national under 23 record and the celebrations are as golden as you'd expect from a French athlete who is so well supported in the crowd. He's into the lead with one round of jumps to go. Well, the Bulgarian was 8.21, I start with 7.71, I think, I don't remember. But in my head I say, wow, this guy is super, super strong and I need to be the best because in my head I say I'm the best and I need to beat him, to beat him. Yeah, no bad word, to beat him. And I train harder than the guys and with patience and the patience is the key word. And in my head I'm the European champion and actually I speak with it also. In my mind it's true, the dream is a reality actually, so I'm like a child. Confirmation of the results in that long jump, what a final it was. But here we go. Such an eye-catching final that we have here, the women's 100 metres. Eyes on lane 3. No way to burn good, is it? Piotrowska goes in 1. Ernst in 2. Wedderburn-Goodison of Great Britain in 3. Her compatriot next to her, Akinbelegi, in 4. Botello in 5. Manasova in 6. Manuel Dup of Greece goes in lane 7. And on the outside in 8. And we're underway. And it's a good start from Wedderburn-Goodison. A very good start as well from the Czech athlete who was just dipping. Very close indeed, but all the focus on Manasova. And she takes the title and she can't believe it. Karolina Manasova flying through the last 50 metres near Wedderburn-Goodison. Gets the silver medal. Emanuela Dup taking the bronze once again, replicating what she did in 2023. Akinbelegi takes 4. But a huge victory from the European indoor finalists this year. Manasova. Wedderburn-Goodison taking the silver medal. Manasova coming through so strong in the end. Gonzalez-Rudolph, Bernardi, Arias, Jordan, Ekpo, Guzman, Karamanalov and Tardioli. Jordan with his head down, got a good start. Arias trying to put an onside. Watch out for Ekpo as well. So, so close here. Arias is just going to get there, but only just. 10.28 for the Frenchman. Screams around the stadium. Those French supporters that we've been talking about, they've been running around wearing their pink and blue shirts. Fascinating because he and Ekpo in the same heat, the same semi-final. And it's been reversed again. Arias in front, then Ekpo. But come the final when it mattered, Arias was in front. Jordan gets a medal. Running the exact same time as the semi-final. 10.28 for Arias and Ekpo 10.30 in the semi and then again in the final. Here we go. They'll hear the bell as they come towards the line. It has been neck and neck throughout this race. But you do just feel like the Irishwoman has it mentally. Does Keira Weiss have anything in reserve to respond? Still nothing in reality between them. It's just a change in the lead. She'll need all the cheers and inspiration she can get as they go around the top bend. Annika Thompson, the Irish flag is being waved. And the screams, the roars are in her favor. What does she have left? What can she find? 250 meters to go. She looks to one side as she moves around the lap to athletes. The gap is opening up. And a slight disruption there as unfortunately we see an athlete just move over to one side and she'll get the help that she needs. But into the home straight comes Annika Thompson and she has broken Keira Weiss. And she is striding towards her first European Under-23 title. She looks to either side. She has done it. She has done more than enough. It's a second ever Under-23 gold medal for an Irishwoman. And it's one that will be so well celebrated back home as the revolution continues in Irish athletics. And it is felt at every single level. A new National Under-23 record. What a moment, what an evening this could become. She just looked so calm throughout. It looked like she wasn't sweating. And there was the moment when the hat comes off and tossed into the sandpit. Annika Thompson, wow, that was something very, very special. Very excited to see what she can do. Of course, on the road, on the track, as off she goes. Goes to get her cap now. She does, oh gosh, that's going to cause havoc with the officials. What a performance from Annika Thompson. And she must feel so rewarded, particularly for her experience over 10,000 metres. What I love about the 10,000 metres is it's the event of the workhorses. Talent doesn't win a 10k, only hard work does. And the more miles and the more work you put in, the better results you're going to have. And I'm a workhorse myself, so it's great to see years of hard work show off. So, Vonnegan, Pedra, Sofia, Diesel, Mordy, Bacari, Sinha, and then Van Helemont. Men's 110 metres hurdles final. So, Diesel in the red from lane four, but Sofia got a much better start, leaving him behind and still in the orange in the lead. But now Diesel power through, Sofia down, and Diesel over the line. 13.46 on the clock. Well, he had to put together a clean race. We said that he was kept on his toes in those semifinals, and Sofia would have to be at his best. He got a fantastic start, but as we know in these hurdles races, sometimes there's cruel luck. You can pay the price. What seems so unfortunate, Vonnegan showing us getting the silver medal with a personal best. First time sub 13.60, and Bacari the bronze. But Enzo Diesel topping the standings in the final, getting the gold medal, and a double podium for Belgium is fantastic. Chesner in one, Nevert goes in two. Tielksa in three. Tott, the one to watch, wearing leg number four, going in four. European under 23, bronze medalist in this event two years ago. Paghez in five, Schneider six, Kokelkolen in seven, Kolyova in eight on the outside. And they're away in this final. Tott makes a good start. Paghez to her side, moving well as well. Tielksa, the Polish athlete, going well. There's not much in it, and Tielksa's going to get it! A huge shock in the women's 100m hurdles. Alicja Tielksa with a huge victory over the European leader at under 23 level this year, Anna Tott, who was hoping this would be the occasion that she'd raise her game to gold. She settles for silver. Tielksa with a maiden victory at European age group championships. Tielksa taking the gold medal here in Bergen at the under 23 athletics championships. Mika Chesner, started out with very, very solid 62.48. European finalist last year in Rome, also competed at the Olympic Games as well. Holder of the world under 20 record, 71.37 for the 1.75 kilo junior implement. Trying to cut the gap on his teammates. And he's done just that, 63.42. So it's now 1.18m. So lots of expectant Germans watching on then. So the clap supporting here, Stephen Richter. Again, a roar from him. Discus comes crashing down. May well be further. Does have that championship record, potentially within his sights. 64.67. So just eking out a bit more of an advantage over teammate Mika Chesner. In the final round. So just the three throws to go. We know that it'll be a German 1-2-3 consecutive night. 61.77 already for Mariusz Karagos. Must be an interesting feeling, though, when you got silver last time around. You're behind two of your teammates. Gone ahead of you in the order. 62.20. So still a metre behind Mika Chesner. What a moment, what a story. We said yesterday that when we look back at the end of the week, when we look back on Sunday and reflect that the 1-2-3 in the shot put would certainly be a moment that sits at the forefront of our memory. And now they've gone and done it again, the Germans. I wonder what the celebrations will be like tonight. The celebrations will be off the scale for Richter. So, personal best. Big new personal best for Alexia. Dospin of Romania now on the runway. Really strong athlete. Wow, that's big. That's really big. Well, she's looking at it. And she's looking at it side on. And the emotion just pours out because this looks like it will be her first time over 14 metres. It's a huge jump. What an improvement. Holds her arms so well. Uses them to propel herself forward. That 13.89. Look at the way she looks down, making sure that it's in the right place. Wow. Huge new personal best. Here's Clémence Rougier. What can she do in the final round? Stretches and stretches, but it's not over 15 metres. Well, 14 metres, I should say. Getting ahead of myself. But a big, big improvement on what we saw yesterday from Clémence Rougier. There we go. No improvement, 13.85, but she will take the silver medal. Clémence Rougier. And that means Alexia and the Dopsin. The European under-23 champion, Dospin screams. She roars. Well, it's so well earned. No one could stop her. First time over, 14 metres in her lifetime. It was a huge improvement. Well, she'll have a jump of honour now. What can she channel here? Driving. She didn't need to go, did she? How often do we see that? Yes, you've done enough and it's so hard to compose yourself when you've smashed your personal best and you've taken a gold medal at the European Championships. Extraordinary to see that amount of emotion before that last jump. I think that just tells you that the Vets are off after that point. Romania's first gold at these championships in eight years, which, as you were saying, was also in the women's triple jump with Pantoroiu, their first medal since 2019. I'll break away because we've got this great hammer final. Nikola Tutel looking to win Ireland's second medal of this evening session. And she's over 70 once again, just like she was in qualification, just like she was at the European Athletics Team Championships. Try and find some composure amid the nerves and excitement here. I'm sure we're jangling together. Tutel has been progressing over the last few years very well. 70-90. So Kuhn, Tutel and Sava the top three. You can't ask much more than a national record in the final. What a way to start things off. We're waiting to see what else she can do here. Right on that 70 line, they must have grown their lead out. Trying to gee herself up. It can be difficult though, Ellen, when you start off so well, actually to match that, because maybe sometimes you set back. Yeah, I think it's something that we have spoken about a lot. We saw it at the team championships, didn't we, of course, referencing that a fair bit. Particularly when you look at the amount of under-23 athletes I should say there, it's a really good marker, precursor coming into this. We saw some occasions where you get a big flow to start with and then struggle to find that again, struggle to build up and then you sometimes resign to the bronze rather than that early gold or the mark for gold that you set out. Eileen Kuhn, this could be a mark that maybe no one could catch if it's further than 71-70. Nikola Tutel's gone out to her third best ever and Sava, of course, a personal record. Kuhn, capable of 72-48 as per this year, but she's added five centimetres to that. Eileen, first ever field medal at these championships as well. Sammy Ball then sitting in second. He actually said that the 400 metres was a highlight of yesterday. Well, 14-67, the personal best for Sammy Ball, the leading contender here. Not sure what happened to Dohovnik, though. He's out. And Carl Dele on this near side. Extremely close with Jocha and Ball and Carl Dele as well. Keep your eyes on that Swiss man going in the red, but it's a good start for Ofer as well. Now he starts to pull away. And Ofer strapping on his knee clutters the last hurdle. But it's quick and it's a lot closer to his personal best than he has been all season. 14.24. 0.04 of that personal best mark. Huber's run nearly half a second faster and that's worth 59 more points. So he's more than half the gap to second place. Our leader. Vocal sound not there either at DNS. So Mwachi Shanwa was going very well until he hit that hurdle. Fleur Lyssen cluttering them two but somehow still clear and does what was expected then. Sub 14 seconds and that should help his progression overall. Yevtes Alar in the discus. One of those athletes with a great chance of gold here and one of the better discus throwers. So let's see what he can do now. He looks very relaxed in the circle. Looks to be further than 43.28. So at the moment he's lifted himself just four points off Sammy Ball. Yevtes Alar who's been solidly there or thereabouts. 44.59. So that's worth 758 points. Ball has thrown 41.52. So the order coming to the discus in terms of top contenders is Ball, Fleur Lyssen, Huber and Yevtes Alar. Fleur Lyssen and Farkas going in the second group. So the opportunity falls away of Ball but in particular Huber and Yevtes Alar to make up ground. Andrew Huber one last go. Can he get any further over 40 meters? He gave that one everything. Gets the white flag. Let's have another look. Establishes decent momentum. Just manages to stay on his feet. Nice and agile through the circles. Just about. Once again veering off to that side. Heavy strapping on his knee. Lower hand placement on the pole but over. His sidearm will be so telling. Really good spring in the pole and clears it and that's well deserving of the bow. They really do deliver the dramatics, the entertainment so much of it in these first well first day and a half coming in the men's decathlon. Yevtes Alar over 44 meters in the discus again just has to try and get as close to his PB as he can. Capable of 54 meters. A bit closer then with a second go and he looks pretty pleased with that. One of the Fox Fighters coached by Ingemar Voss. The decathlete himself of course. So taste Alar you can see that had four more points for 53.33. Andrin Huber so finds himself in 5th overall. But let's have a look at this. So really attacks hard that runway and it's over 60 meters and he's the first athlete to do that and is this the crucial moment that crowns him the champion? Well obviously we have to wait for the 1500 to come but when he was in 4th earlier this morning have a look at his second day personal best and even though wasn't top form this year looked very capable his first time over 60 meters. Decathlon standings after 9 events and you can see there it is 100 points and more between Huber and Taste Alar. So Taste Alar who does have a personal best 7 seconds better off than Huber. 4.08 in Götzes on his way to an incredible 8.249 versus the best of Huber. But Taste Alar comes through he'll get the silver medal 4.14 on the clock and Huber here will take the gold for Switzerland and look at that does produce a sprint on the line he was just a fraction in front looks like the bronze certainly will go to Ferranti but all of these men crashing down onto the ground shakes of the head but finally a reason to celebrate watch as some emotion comes out. Well we've been with them all the way and you feel it don't you? These are some of the most inspirational athletes on the planet. So and then two time qualifiers 50.80 at the bell so Panicci just as he did in Nancy really pushing the pace and Jonas who's also very strong over 1500 metres trying to follow through and won the UK under 23 trial for this event but for sure competition stepped up it's going to be really tough to be inside the top two here and two more heats to come so Panicci of Italy in the blue Larros blonde hair as always flopping about in second for the Netherlands Jonas still there fighting Olivo and Marques de Andrade bronze medallist at under 20 level two years ago look at this a four way scrap for the top two positions Jonas just about there Larros is overtaken by Jonas what a finish there well maybe more of an 800 specialist you might say beating the man who's been successful over the past and it's a championship record as well beating a mark that had been held since 1999 by Neil Schumann of course went on to Olympic gold for Germany 145.21 it was I think that just tells you we don't often see a race like that going full pelt 50.80 at the belt for Panicci who's in incredible form and in a heat as well which is extraordinary maybe it tells you about the confidence of some of these athletes and maybe it tells you they know that there should only be two races for those who aren't doubling up Henrietta Jaeger cruised through qualification in the 400 metres yesterday so Henrietta Jaeger going in lane 5 keep your eyes on Alison Bell as well going in 7 but it's a very very quick start indeed from the Norwegian who is flying around the bottom bend it will be her and Alison Bell Jaeger takes a look to the side you'll see Bell there it will be a real scrap for who takes the third automatic qualification place at the moment it's being edged just on the outside I think confirmation Jaeger stopping the clock at 23.35 Alison Bell very secure in that second qualification place and it is the Dutch athlete Brit de Blau but cool as you like once again see easing up she came towards the line as was Alison Bell of Great Britain Yemi Mary-Jo well the reigning champion she has such an impressive collection of medals as does this woman who is wearing the blue bib as the under 23 leader the home favourite she's already gone in the 200 metres today she's very comfortable all the way through her qualifications well here we go keep your eyes on lane 4 and lane 5 very quick start from the home favourite Henrietta Jaeger on Yemi Mary-Jo but she's starting to pull away now around the athlete to the outside of her these two side by side as Yemi Mary-Jo goes past Clancer Yent just being edged by the Brit as Jaeger looks to one side looks to the other it seems that 300 metre mark is the place to do it and it is Yemi Mary-Jo who has edged it over Henrietta Jaeger 0.05 the difference Anna Pietro coming through as the other Hello I'm Leonardo Fabri and you must subscribe to the European Athletics channel because otherwise I'm going to fight you