The Dutch lead the 1st Division of the European Athletics Team Championships at the Estadio Vallehermoso in Madrid on Friday.
Following Menno Vloon’s victory in the men’s pole vault in front of the Royal Palace on Thursday, the wins kept coming. In the main stadium with Femke Bol (women’s 400m CR), Jessica Schilder (women’s shot put CR) and Jorinde van Klinken (women’s discus) all logging maximum points to propel the Netherlands to 165.5 points after 13 of 37 events.
It gives them a 31.5 point advantage over hosts Spain. And defending champions Italy are just a further point adrift heading into the weekend.
It was also a memorable evening for the host nation. The undoubted highlight being a supreme performance by Mohamed Attaoui to win the men’s 800m in a championship record of 1:44.01.
Great Britain celebrated two men’s sprint victories courtesy of Eugene Amo-Dadzie and Sam Reardon in the 100m and 400m, the latter in a championship record.
Nadia Battocletti underlined her status as Europe’s leading women’s long-distance runner on the track with a superb last lap to win the 5000m. Germany’s Karl Bebendorf won the men’s 3000m steeplechase in a championship record.
In the field, Ukraine’s Olympic bronze medallist Mykhaylo Kokhan won the men’s hammer with a personal best.
Meanwhile, newly promoted Hungary are providing some surprises, Boglarka Takacs set a new national record and championship record in the women’s 100m.
