Athletics championships open in Birmingham with women's 100m and men's 5,000m finals

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Women’s 100m and men’s 5,000m top opening billing Britain ends 92-year wait | Mail Billy | Follow on TikTok Hello and welcome to the first evening session of the European athletics championships. After Rome two years ago, it’s Birmingham’s turn to take centre stage as the Alexander Stadium hosts the best the continent has to offer, with plenty of British interest to keep the home crowd on the edge of their seats. Tonight we kick off in style with two blockbuster finals. Norway’s superstar long-distance specialist Jakob Ingebrigtsen attempts to put injury and illness worries behind him in the men’s 5,000m final at 8.40pm (BST). He’ll have competition in the form of France’s world 10,000m champion, Jimmy Gressier. The session culminates in the women’s 100m final at 9.50pm as Dina Asher-Smith goes out to defend her title from two years ago against GB teammate Amy Hunt, who won Commonwealth silver in Glasgow last month. There’s also the fun and games of a mixed 4x400m relay. Continue reading...

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Highlights are men’s 100m and women’s 100m hurdles Hodgkinson up and running | Ticket backlash | Mail Billy Hello and welcome to the evening session on day two of the European athletics championships in Birmingham. After a coming-of-age victory for Amy Hunt and a comeback win for Jakob Ingebrigtsen last night, let’s hope for more drama on the track – and in the field – over the coming hours at Alexander Stadium. The main event this evening is the business end of the men’s 100m. After the lower-ranked athletes went in the heats this morning, the big names enter the fray in the semi-finals and the final. Italy’s Marcell Jacobs is here to defend his titles from 2022 and 2024 and he’s on fine form, having clocked a ridiculous 9.67sec in Austria last month thanks to a lot of wind assistance. Hosts Great Britain have representation in Jeremiah Azu, Louis Hinchliffe and a real medal chance in Romell Glave. Continue reading...