Great Britain won four gold medals on the third day of the European Athletics U18 Championships in Gyor, Hungary including two in less than a minute at the end of the programme.
Keely Hodgkinson powered to the 800m title in a championship record of 2:04.84 ahead of Ireland's Sophie O'Sullivan, daughter of former world and European 5000m champion Sonia, in 2:06.05. Seconds later, Dominic Ogbechie sealed the high jump title with a third time clearance of 2.16m to equal his outdoor lifetime best, although he has cleared 2.22m indoors.
Another British gold medal on the third day of competition at the European U18 Championships!
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2018
Watch @Dom_ogbechie96 clear 2.16m to win the high jump title in Gyor. pic.twitter.com/KOqQ1mFfkl
'It is amazing to be the European champion, I am so pleased. It was such a surreal atmosphere tonight. Everyone was going absolutely mental in the stands, everyone was so supportive and it was just a great night at the track. I’ll keep those moments with me. Keely [Hodgkinson] and Sam [Bennett] won just before me, so it was like a mini super Saturday. It was a great moment to be jumping,' said Ogbechie.
There was a championship record of 13.19 from Sam Bennett who dominated the 110m hurdles final, defeating France's European U18 leader Kenny Fletcher by three-tenths.
Gold in the 110m hurdles for @SamMBennett_ - and by a huge winning margin as well!
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2018
The Brit won the gold medal in a championship record of 13.19, winning by 0.3 from France's Kenny Fletcher and Switzerland's Nick Ruegg. pic.twitter.com/9aVXiXZkkY
'I didn’t have any expectations of breaking records or setting PBs coming into these championships, I just came here to compete and run faster in each round,' he said. 'I like the competition, it makes me become a better runner and I think that showed today.'
Kane Elliott also won a dramatic 1500m final in a championship record of 3:55.26 to pip Hungary's Bence Apati, who led by a significant margin coming into the home straight, with 3:55.53.
What a crazy finish to the 1500m at the European U18 Championships!
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2018
Kane Elliott produced this brilliant sprint finish to pip Hungary's Bence Apati for the title. pic.twitter.com/vw4ripNE5J
With one day remaining, Great Britain sit atop the medal table with five gold medals ahead of Belarus with three gold medals. The British team also topped the standings at the inaugural European U18 Championships in Tbilisi two years ago.
It was also a significant night for Germany who came away with two gold medals. Alexander Czysch equalled the championship record in the 200m final with 21.15 ahead of teammate Daniel Regenfuss before Leni Wildgrube cleared a lifetime best of 4.21m and then a championship record of 4.26m to win the pole vault title.
Gold and silver for Germany in the 200m final at the European U18 Championships!
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2018
Alexander Czysch equalled the championship record of 21.15 to edge out his teammate Daniel Regenfuss in 21.19. pic.twitter.com/kAiID8kV9r
Rhasidat Adeleke added a second gold medal to Ireland's count with victory in the 200m in a lifetime best and European U18 lead of 23.52, defeating a strong field including 100m winner Gudbjorg Jona Bjarnadottir from Iceland who won bronze in 23.73.