Relay Double Continues British Sprinting Dominance in Birmingham

The Novuna Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team continued their sprinting dominance at the Birmingham 2026 European Championships with a brilliant relay double gold at Alexander Stadium.

Amy Hunt earned her third gold of the week by teaming up with Dina Asher-Smith, Success Eduan and Imani-Lara Lansiquot for a convincing triumph in the women’s 4x100m showpiece which concluded day six.

Asher-Smith’s seventh European gold and 10th medal in all saw her become the most successful athlete in this competition’s history and it was the 30-year-old who got the host nation off to a flyer.

She handed to Hunt before Eduan set Lansiquot away to scorch clear down the home straight to the delight of the crowd inside the Alexander Stadium, with the clock stopping at 42.05s.

“I’m having the time of my life,” said Hunt. “I’m standing next to some amazing women – Dina is the most decorated European athlete ever, Success delivers babies for a living and Imani wrote a play. They are just special people.”

That success came hot on the heels of Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchcliffe, Zharnel Hughes and Romell Glave blitzing the field in the men’s 4x100m to win in 38.45s.

Azu, Hughes and Glave now have two medals apiece this week after finishing on the podium in their individual events.

The host nation occupied positions four, five and six in a men’s 1500m final which went down to the wire. Team captain Jake Wightman led around the final bend with Jake Heyward in close attendance.

But a late burst from Stefan Nillessen saw the Dutchman take gold, with Heyward coming home fourth in 3:36.40 and Wightman sixth in 3:37.18, separated by debutant Arlo Ludewick who clocked 3:36.65.

Yemi Mary John and Charlotte Henrich finished fifth and sixth respectively in the women’s 400m final. John crossed in 51.12s, with Henrich following close behind in 51.29s.

Henrich was a late addition to the field after Amber Anning picking up an injury in the warm-up.

Morgan Lake finished eighth in the women’s high jump final after missing all three attempts at 1.92m.

“At a home championship, you always want to perform, but for the level that I’ve been at this year, it was actually good,” she said.

Jade O’Dowda finished 13th in the women’s heptathlon after rounding off her competition with a time of 2:16.62 in the 800m taking her to 870 points.

“It was a tough couple of days,” she said. “I have really mixed emotions and I know I’m in better shape than that. When you have bad days on these days, it’s unfortunate, but we’re human.”

Katarina Johnson-Thompson clocked 2:24.92 and ended in 20th position overall on 758 points.

The men’s 10,000m saw a new Championship record of 27:23.44 set by Sweden’s Andreas Almgren in a race featuring three British contenders.

David Mullarkey finished 12th in 28:25.58, Scott Beattie was 15th in 28:50.35 and Joe Wigfield crossed 17th in 29:09.43.

Wigfield said: "I've still got plenty more to learn, but it was brilliant to run down the home straight. Obviously I'm gutted, but I gave a little wave to the crowd because you don't know when you're next going to get that opportunity."