Angelina Topic completed the first leg of her audacious jumps double by winning the women’s high jump at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem on Wednesday (9) evening
The Serbian sensation has been in flawless form through the competition, clearing every single bar and not recording a single failure in qualifying or in the final. She routinely cleared her opening height of 1.80m and was similarly unperturbed through 1.86m, 1.88m and 1.90m.
Only 2021 bronze medallist Elisabeth Pihela was able to live with her with a second-time clearance at 1.88m. But when the Estonian bowed out at 1.90m, another title was confirmed for Topic, winner at the European U18 Championships last year.
Joana Herrmann of Germany took bronze on countback with a best of 1.86m. But for the gold medallist, she will now face a short rest before resuming her assault on double gold in the long jump final starting at 9.15am local time on Thursday (10).
“This double start is a big challenge for me because this is the first major championship where I want to do two events. So this morning I had the long jump qualification as well and then I was rushing to the hotel to get some rest before this final.
"I felt really great - in fact I am feeling better than ever. I wanted to jump a bit higher but my coach told me to spare the energy for tomorrow,” said Topic whose coach is also her father Dragutin, the 1990 European champion and six-time Olympian.
“My father - my coach just told me after the competition: I am so proud of you. He wanted to start crying,” said Topic.
Lampinen unleashes world U20 lead for surprise hammer title
In a dramatic hammer final, Finland’s Max Lampinen unleashed an enormous world U20 lead of 79.72m in the fifth round to take the gold.
Iosif Kesidis was eyeing another golden double for Cyprus, following his teammate Valentina Savva’s victory in the women’s competition on Tuesday. He led after a second-round effort of 77.73m, to make a repeat of the Cypriot double from last year’s European Athletics U18 Championships a realistic possibility.
But Lampinen had other ideas. He also added a final round throw of 78.10m to underscore his superiority and add gold to the world U20 silver he won last year. Kesidis settled for silver after an impressive series with all six throws beyond 75 metres.
Miklós Cseko of Hungary won bronze with 76.87m. In a demonstration of what was a highly-quality field, Jovan Stranic of Serbia, the world U20 leader going into the final, finished outside the medals, placing fourth with 73.42m.
“I think I surprised them all,” said Lampinen. “Maybe I made them a bit angry, but they will have another chance for revenge at the next competitions. Of course, I came here to fight for the medal, and I knew I was going to break my PB here so not that much surprised, but I did not know it would be so massive.”
In the women’s 400m final, Lurdes Gloria Manuel went one better than the silver she won over one lap at last year’s European U18 Championships.
The Czech athlete was pressured by early leader Ashley Nemits of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on her inside. But as they peeled off the final turn, Manuel surged clear leaving the field in her wake to win in 51.94.
“I am the European champion - that sounds amazing,” said a thrilled Manuel “Coming to Jerusalem, I knew I had the fastest time, but I did not take anything for granted. I wanted to make sure I was going for gold.
“After the first 100m, I felt like I had to push a bit more and I was like: Run, run, run. Crossing the finish line, it was just one of the most unforgettable moments in my career. Last year, I was silver here and it was like a big motivation for me to win this time.
France’s Alexe Deau was the surprise silver medallist, lopping 1.17 off her personal best with 52.53. The Netherlands’ Myrte van Der Schoot set a national U20 record of 52.85 to take bronze.
Emotional 400m gold for Isaksen
There was an emotion-charged victory in the men’s 400m for Denmark’s Jónas Gunnleivsson Isaksen of Denmark. The Faroe Islander revealed after the race that he had lost his mother last year and he dedicated the victory to her.
“A year ago, I lost my mum from cancer. She died and I promised her that I am going to win every single competition from now on,” said the Dane. “This is all for my mum. She was my everything, she drove me to every training, was with me at every competition so this means a lot to me.
“I just wanted it more than them and I did it. It is an amazing feeling to win the first gold medal for Denmark. I am from Faroe Islands which is a small place, 50 000 people so I am wearing this flag.”
The pre-race favourite Maksymilian Szwed made the early running with Gunnleivsson Isaksen, but the Pole faded to bronze in the home straight, diving over the line in 46.31. The fast-finishing Charlie Carvell from Great Britain took silver in 46.08.
In the men’s pole vault, Italy’s Simone Bertelli took gold with 5.40m on countback from last year’s European U18 silver medallist Valentin Imsand of Switzerland. Türkiye’s Erdem Tilki took bronze in a national U20 record of 5.30m.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics