10 ATHLETES ADVANCE TO SEMI-FINALS ON OPENING MORNING OF THE EUROPEAN ATHLETICS U20 CHAMPS

10 British athletes moved into semi-finals later in the day after some impressive displays and the heptathlon got underway on the first morning of action at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.

All three men moved into the 100m semi-finals at 14:45 BST today after some rapid times in the heats.

Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton, Blackheath and Bromley) was involved in the fastest heat of the morning, and as the track temperature hit 31 degrees, he produced a scorching time of 10.30 (0.2) for second behind France’s Jeff Erius who ran 10.29.

He said post-race, “Execution and belief, that’s what did it today. I’m happy with the result but I’m not done yet. I’m heading into the semi-final with a clear mind. It’s every man’s game for himself. I’m grateful to God for this.”

A time of 10.41 (-0.9) saw Toby Makoyawo (Peter Griffiths, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) advance as heat three winner, while Ethan Wiltshire (Jake Awe, Marshall Milton Keynes) ran a personal best of 10.50 (-0.7) to win the first heat.

After his PB, Wiltshire added, “I well and truly put everything that I’ve put in in the trenches to play here. I tried my hardest and had to keep my mind level when I saw them go out. I kept to my race structure that me and my coach have discussed and obviously it worked out well. I always think I’m in PB shape. You have to keep you mind right before your body follows. I always believe when I turn up on the day that anything is possible.”

All three British athletes successfully negotiated their way into the women’s 100m semi-finals later this afternoon.

Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead) was first up for the British trio, and she impressed as she ran a European U18 lead with a time of 11.52 (-1.0). She was the second fastest qualifier overall from the heats and was happy with her progress at her first major Championships for GB & NI.

She said, “It was a good race, despite the fact there were two false starts. I’m glad I’ve run what I needed to run to qualify for the semi-finals. This is my first U20s so I’m so happy to be able to run, that I am healthy and I managed to cross the line and qualify.”

In heat two, Aleeya Sibbons (Coral Nourrice, Newham and Essex Beagles) advanced as the heat winner in a time of 11.66 (-0.2) and fourth fastest from the heats, while Eve Wright (Ryan Freckleton, Shaftesbury Barnet) ran a time of 11.72 (+1.1) for second in her heat to comfortably qualify for the semi-finals at 14:25 (BST).

Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) produced a professional display from lane eight to comfortably book her place in the women’s 400m semi-finals later today. She attacked the race in the first 200m going through the hallway mark at 25.23 and pushed on to secure the heat victory in a time of 53.85.

Afterwards she commented, “I went out well and I definitely ran strongly on the last bit which is usually the strongest part of my race. I just approached it how I run all my races and tried not to overthink it too much. I just wanted to go out hard and maintain it and bring it home hard.”

In the men’s 400m, there were three more qualifiers for the afternoon session’s semi-finals, with the British trio back in action from 15:55 BST.

There was a composed run from Charlie Carvell (Stuart Hamilton, Telford) as he won his opening heat in 46.95 to move into this afternoon’s semi-finals. Going from lane eight, he held his form well throughout, and held on for a smart win in the second fastest time from the heats.

In heat two, Edward Faulds (James Wright, Rugby and Northampton) also ran a sensible race as he conserved energy in the final few metres to cross the line third in an automatic qualifying spot. He posted a time of 47.07 in the heat won by Italy’s Lorenzo Benati.

In the fourth and final heat, Brodie Young (James McMenemy, Airdrie Harriers) made it three from three as the Scottish athlete finished third in his heat to advance. With a bit of work to do in the home straight as he sat in fifth position, he pushed on to secure an auto qualifier spot in a time of 47.98.

In the heptathlon, Abigail Pawlett (Joe Frost, Stockport T&F) began her campaign with a time of 13.75 (-0.1) in the 100m hurdles, the second quickest in the field behind Finland’s Saga Vanninen. It was just 0.04s off her PB from this year.

She followed this with a clearance of 1.72m in the high jump which added 879 points to her tally to leave her on 1930 points after two events, and third overall in the standings.

The event is streamed on the European Athletics website and live results can be found here: https://tallinn21-u20results.european-athletics.com/en/results/athletics/daily-schedule.htm