Scanes gives Novuna GB & NI a golden start to the European Athletics U18 Championships

Joseph Scanes shone in Italian heat to give Novuna GB & NI U18s a golden start to Rieti 2026.

Scanes (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, Mike Reeves) won the European U18 men’s 3000m title in a time of 8:09.12, claiming the first gold of the Games. Teammate Finn Maclennan (Cambridge & Colderidge AC) finished eighth in 8:20.16.

There was also plenty of strong performances in the early rounds of other events across day one as athletes battled temperatures rising well into the high 30s.

Early in the day, Charlie Chambers (Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, Mike Chambers) and Magnus Riddell (Tynedale Harriers & AC, Peter Venus) came through quick 800m heats and will start gearing up for the semi-finals.

Riddell was second in his heat in 1:56.78, with Chambers winning his heat in 1:53.39.

All three 400m athletes won their round one heats to put them in a perfect position for the semi-finals tomorrow evening.

Lucas Cameron (Tonbridge AC) breezed through his race in a time of 47.93, while his female counterparts, Noa Chodokufa (Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies, Paul Franklin) and Darcy Coslett (Llanelli AC, Rhys Williams), eased into the semi-finals by clocking 54.69 and 54.87 respectively.

Divine Iheme (Radley Athletic Club, Nkiruka Iheme), Celine Obinna-Alo (Gateshead Harriers & AC, Richard Kilty) and Shivelle Marshall (Croydon Harriers, Paul Weston) all showed their prowess in the 100m, securing their places in the semi-finals with hopes of putting on a show in the final tomorrow evening.

There were further strong showings in the field events.

Both Samuel James (Kingston AC and Poly Harriers, James Wild) and Eli Adams (North Shields Polytechnic Club, Bruce Robertson) reached the final of the men’s high jump. James cleared 2.05m and Adams succeeded at 2.01m.

Team captain Moyo Stumpenhusen (Rugby & Northampton AC, Gary Herrington) was an automatic qualifier in the men’s discus with a best attempt of 58.24m while Chu Ononogbu (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Clyde Gordon) threw 52.48m.

Sophie Robertson (Glasgow Jaguars T&F Club, Bill Main) reached the women’s hammer final with a best attempt of 64.51m, while Emilia Adese (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC) also qualified for the shot-put finals. Elkie Baker (London Heathside, Neville Thompson) just missed out on the next round in the Discus despie a trong throw of 43.03m.

GB & NI’s two Heptathletes, Dionne Maguinness (Airdrie Harriers) and Leanna Elliot (Cumbernauld AAC), put in a huge effort on the first day of competition and will be back in action on Friday.