4X100M RELAYS QUALIFY FOR FINALS AT EUROPEAN ATHLETICS U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Both 4x100m relay quartets secured safe qualification to their finals later today on the final day of action at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.

The men’s 4x100m relay team progressed after running a European U20 leading time of 39.68 to win their heat.

The line-up of Joseph Harding (coach: Laura Turner-Alleyne, club: Basildon), Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton, Blackheath and Bromley), Toby Makoyawo (Peter Griffiths, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) and Ethan Wiltshire (Jake Awe, Marshall Milton Keynes) were the quickest squad from the morning’s heat and will be the favourites later this afternoon. The final goes off at 14:50 BST.

Harding, who raced in the 110m hurdles final on Saturday, returned to the track to get the team off to an excellent start. A clean changeover to Quainoo followed and the Blackheath and Bromley athlete put the team in a good position before handing over to 100m champion, Toby Makoyawo, around the bend. By the time he handed to Wiltshire, the team were in a strong position, but the anchor leg man accelerated to move clear of the French team to take the win.

Quainoo said, “It was a good start, but we have a lot more in the tank. The main aim was to get the baton around – we’ll save the speed for the final.”

Wiltshire added, “When Toby gave the baton to me, I just had the confidence in my legs. The team did their thing, so I just had to keep it nice and relaxed. We’ll bring out the best in the final.”

The women’s 4x100m relay team also advanced to the final in relatively straight forward fashion as they finished second in their heat in a time of 44.95 behind Germany.

Alyson Bell (Billy Glasgow, Giffnock North) got the team off to a solid start on leg one and her exchange to Eve Wright (Ryan Freckleton, Shaftesbury Barnet) was trouble-free. Wright, who competed in the 100m earlier in the week, ran a strong leg down the backstraight to handover to Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead) in contention for the automatic qualifying spots.

Eze – the 100m bronze medallist – tracked the leading German’s and handed to Aleeya Sibbons (Coral Nourrice, Newham and Essex Beagles) inside the top three positions, and Sibbons brought it home to move away from the Belgium team and confirm a place in the final at 14:40 BST today.

Wright reflected, “I thought it was pretty good. There were a few little baton errors which I had to deal with on the way down. But once I got going, I felt like it was a good run. We all wanted to play it safe to reach the final but now we want to win it.”

Sibbons, who anchored the team home, said, “I’m so happy that we have qualified. I just needed to hold my position. I wasn’t sure who was behind me, but I was concentrating on chasing down the team ahead of me.”

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

British team medals:

Gold (3):

Edward Faulds – Men’s 400m

Derek Kinlock – Men’s 200m

Toby Makoyako – Men’s 100m

Silver (1):

Mary John – Women’s 400m

Bronze (5):

Sam Brereton – Men’s High Jump

Success Eduan – Women’s 200m

Joy Eze – Women’s 100m

Alex Melloy – Men’s 3000m

Henry McLuckie – Men’s 1500m