BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, August 12 — Stuck in lane 9, Matthew Hudson-Smith had but one option in the 400, to go hard. That he did, with a massive lead by halfway that he maintained around the last curve. Did he go out too fast? On the final stretch he began to show the fatigue as Muhammad Abdallah Kounta led the charge to catch him. Visibly tying up, Hudson-Smith somehow held on to win by a stride in 44.17, the No. 2 time in meet history.
Kounta won silver in 44.40, with bronze to Jonas Phijffers in a Dutch Record 44.41.
Hudson-Smith, a local, grew up racing on this track and had won Euros 400 gold twice before, in ’18 and ’22. He said, “The lane draw never bothers me, a 400m is a 400m. It’s always going to be hard, we train in every lane anyway so lane 9 is something I’m used to. I tried to get out hard in the first 150m and take control of the race. I know I am the fastest in the field so I wanted to put the pressure on and put it out of reach for the rest of the field in the homestraight.”
Switzerland’s Jason Joseph came from behind to capture the hurdles in 13.12. The bronze medalist 2 years ago, Joseph had to catch Poland’s Jakub Szymanski, the World Indoor champion whose strength is in the early part of the race. Racing alongside Joseph was Just Kwaou-Mathey, who was even with him at the final hurdle but fell behind in Joseph’s rush to the line. Behind the Frenchman’s 13.16 Szymanski held on for bronze in 13.26.
With four DL wins this season, Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalová figured to be the favorite in the 400H. She still had to work for it. Belgium’s Paulien Couckuyt made herself the one to chase by going out hard. She still led around the final turn, but that’s where Zapletalová started her charge. She led over the final two hurdles, looking unbeatable as she hit the line in 52.91, the third-fastest winning time in meet history.
Britian’s Emily Newnham finished like a runaway train and snatched the silver in 53.33, a PR by 0.59. Bronze went to Fatoumata Binta Diallo in 53.55, a Portuguese Record.
“Honestly, I am not very happy with my performance or my run,” admitted Zapletalová, who added, “I was not affected by the pressure. I also felt a lot of support and love from the Slovak fans. I feel that people are following me and expecting medals, so I felt very relieved at the finishline.”
The women’s hammer was the only field final of the day. Finland’s Silja Kosonen, in 4th after round 1, whirled 245-11 (74.97) on her second throw to take the lead. Then on throw 3 she went even farther, a 250-3 (76.28) that locked up the win over Sara Fantini of Italy’s 243-11 (74.35) and Norwegian Beatrice Nedberge Llano’s 239-1 (72.88). Four-time winner Anita Włodarczyk, now 41, finished just out of the medals with her 237-5 (72.37).
Said Kosonen of her first major win, “I came for gold. I ended up 4th or 5th too many times before. But coming here, I felt confident. I had a good season, felt consistent and have not had too many injuries or any problems. I felt good and confident.”
World champion Leo Neugebauer made himself the man to beat on the first day of the decathlon. He opened up with a 10.90 in the 100, topped the long jump at 25-8 (7.82) and led the shot, becoming the first in meet history to throw as far as 56-3¾ (17.16). He slipped a bit with his 6-6¼ (1.99) high jump, and appeared to hit a wall in his 400, managing a painful-looking 48.81.
That left the German with 4483 points, with Netherlands’ Jeff Tesselaar 2nd at 4412 and Norway’s Sander Skotheim at 4382. Lurking in 6th is Germany’s Niklas Kaul (4214), who is on PR pace.
In the morning session, Mark English brought down the MR in his semi with a 1:43.49 as the top 5 in his race all broke 1:44. The 400H semis also surprised, with Oskar Edlund winning the first semi in a Swedish Record 47.81. Karsten Warholm won a later semi in 48.01, just ahead of the 48.03 Slovenian Record by Matic Ian Guček.
EURO CHAMPS DAY 3 MEDALISTS
Men’s Events
400: 1. Matthew Hudson-Smith (GB) 44.17; 2. Muhammad Abdalla Kounta (Fra) 44.40; 3. Jonas Phijffers (Neth) 44.41 NR.
110H(-0.3): 1. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.12; 2. Just Kwaou-Mathey (Fra) 13.16; 3. Jakub Szymański (Pol) 13.26.
Women’s Events
400H: 1. Emma Zapletalová (Svk) 52.91; 2. Emily Newnham (GB) 53.33 PR; 3. Fatoumata Diallo (Por) 53.55 NR.
HT: 1. Silja Kosonen (Fin) 250-3 (76.28); 2. Sara Fantini (Ita) 243-11 (74.35); 3. Beatrice Nedberge Llano (Nor) 239-1 (72.88)Í.
