Britain's men’s and women’s 4x100 teams take gold as Amy Hunt eyes fourth European title

Britain’s men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams both won gold at the European Championships, and Amy Hunt will attempt to add a fourth gold in the mixed 4x100m relay on Sunday.

The women completed their race in 42.05 seconds, finishing more than 10 metres ahead of Switzerland and Poland, while Hunt described her quartet as “We’re the fantastic four.” Hunt praised team-mates Dina Asher-Smith, Success Eduan and Imani-Lara Lansiquot and credited new relay coach Richard Kilty, who told the team: “Go out and break their hearts.”

Hunt highlighted Asher-Smith after the race, saying: “I’m stood next to Dina, she’s the most decorated European athlete in history,” and added, “She has got thousands of medals.” She also pointed to Eduan and Lansiquot with the lines: “This girl, Success, is a midwife. She brings new babies into the world.” and “Imani, that girl wrote a play.”

Success Eduan, described in the report as 21 years old and three weeks from completing a midwifery degree, said: “I finish in three weeks and I graduate in November, hopefully.” Asked whether it was harder to deliver a baby or a baton she replied: “A baby! Someone’s life is in my hands.”

Fifteen minutes before the women’s victory the British men’s quartet of Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Zharnel Hughes and Romell Glave won gold in 38.45 seconds, finishing ahead of Germany and Belgium.

Other standout results on the night included Italy’s Andy Diaz winning the triple jump with a leap of 18.15m — described in the report as the fourth furthest in history — edging Portugal’s Pedro Richardo by 39cm. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren took the men’s 10,000m in a championship record 27 mins 23.44 secs, winning by nearly 20 seconds; Almgren said: “If someone is going to beat me, they are going to have to suffer for it,” and added: “I’m in the best 10k shape of my life.” Dominic Lobalu was second and Jimmy Gressier third after a sprint finish from Italy’s Yeman Crippa.

Germany’s Julian Weber broke the javelin championship record with a 90.40m final-round throw to beat team-mate Nick Thumm, prompting Steve Backley to say: “I’m delighted for him. Julian Weber is my favourite thrower. A brilliant athlete. He has thrown ridiculously far tonight. Records are there to be broken and it is why we love Championships. Medals are for keeps, records are to borrow.” In the women’s 400m Norway’s Henriette Jaeger won in 49.04, with Natalia Bukowiecka second and Lieke Klaver third.

Ireland’s Kate O’Connor won the heptathlon with 6751 points, ahead of Emma Oosterwegel (6712) and Sofie Dokter (6664); O’Connor dedicated her gold to her father and coach, Michael, saying: “He still turns up to training, day in, day out, because this is my dream – but it is also his dream too.” Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished 23rd and said: “I’ve had a really difficult season behind the scenes, and I didn’t know what form I was going to come here in,” with the report noting she is said to have been battling a calf injury. The men’s 1500m produced a surprise as Stefan Nillessen, a 6ft 4in 23-year-old described as running “a bit like Forrest Gump,” won in 3:35.70 after Isaac Nader faded to tenth and Jake Wightman could not respond with 100m to go; Nillessen said: “The smile won’t go off my face for a long time.” Yaroslava Mahuchikh took the women’s high jump with 1.97m, ahead of Poland’s Maria Zodzik and Montenegro’s Marija Vukovic.

On Sunday Hunt will attempt to become the first athlete to win four gold medals at a single edition of the European championships in the mixed 4x100m relay.