Iheme breaks Championship record on way to European U18 gold

​Divine Iheme was the star of day two at the European U18 Athletics Championships in Rieti as the 16-year-old smashed the men’s 100m championship record to take gold.

Iheme (Club: Radley Athletic Club, Coach: Nkiruka Iheme) clocked 10.29 (wind: +0.1) in the showpiece, coming home seven-tenths of a second clear of his nearest competitor.

He said: “I knew I was going to get [the win], but I thought ‘I’ve still got to just go crazy.’

“The nerves and pressure were so worth it as they pushed me to run this time. The atmosphere was crazy, there was so much support for both my competitors and from my teammates.

“I just gave it my all, and God helped me do it. It feels amazing. A championship record, a gold medal, and first place is all you can ask for.”

Celine Obinna-Alo (Gateshead Harriers & AC, Richard Kilty) also bagged a sprinting medal for Team Novuna Great Britian & Northern Ireland , taking home bronze in the women’s 100m with a time of 11.50. Shivelle Marshall (Croydon Harriers, Paul Weston) achieved a new personal best of 11.65 to qualify for the final, in which she finished seventh in 11.82.

Ethan Heggarty (Bingley Harriers & AC, Demetric Nelson) flew out of the blocks in his men’s 200m heat to smash the championship record with a time of 20.77, while Bronson Hearn-Smith (Colchester Harriers AC, Stephen Garnham) also qualified for the semi-final, crossing in 21.37.

In the women’s 200m, Shaiya Kenion (Coventry Godiva Harriers, Brian Darby) and Holly Ryan (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Ty Holden) both impressed, reaching the semi-finals with times of 23.73 and 24.10 respectively.

The 400m semi-finals saw Lucas Cameron (Tonbridge AC) and Noa Chodokufa (Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies, Paul Franklin) make it through.

Chodokufa won her semi-final in a time of 54.24 while Cameron ran a personal best of 47.57 to reach the men’s showpiece. Darcy Coslett (Llanelli AC, Rhys Williams) also produced a strong run of 55.01, but just missed out on a final berth.

The 400m hurdles fired its starting gun on day two, and Lucia Bertacchini (Winchester & District AC, Andrew Fisher) didn’t waste any time in raising her hand as a contender by clocking in at 59.75 to progress to the next round.

In the field events, Leila Newth broke the British U18 triple jump record with a best attempt of 13.02m to reach the final as an automatic qualifier.

Sophie Robertson (Glasgow Jaguars T&F Club, Bill Main) put in a brilliant effort in the final of the hammer throw, notching back-to-back personal bests, to finish fifth with a best attempt of 65.25m.

Likewise, Lucy Bull (Cheltenham and County Harriers, Carolyn Franks) smashed her personal best with a 54.98m throw in Javelin qualification to reach the final as an automatic qualifier.

Alessia Scala qualified for her high jump final by successfully passing 1.71m.

Emilia Adese (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC) just missed out on a medal in the shot put final, finishing fourth with a best effort of 16.85m, while heptathletes Dionne Maguinness (Airdrie Harriers) and Leanna Elliot (Cumbernauld AAC) finished sixth and tenth overall.

GB & NI dominated over 800m on day two as both Charlie Chambers (Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, Mike Chambers) and Magnus Riddell (Tynedale Harriers & AC, Peter Venus) won their semi-finals, while Ezrah Harrold (Chelmsford AC, David Fewell) and Jorjia March (Chelmsford AC, John Clarke) comfortably came through their heats.

Freddie Rowe (Havering AC, Patrick Gahagan) and Alistair Street (Kilbarchan AAC, John Rodger) impressed in the men’s 1500m heats, finishing first and second to secure places in Sunday’s final.

Aaron Reid (Giffnock North Athletics Club, Croy Thomson) finished 11th in the men’s 2000m steeplechase with a time of 5:58.56.

Owen Firth (Waverley Athletics Club, John Shepherd) was 10th in the men’s long jump with a best attempt of 7.03m.