The athletics schedule today at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham is packed, with seven gold medals due to be decided in the evening session.
But the timetable has already been disrupted by a traffic incident in Birmingham, which is delaying some of the evening events. The championships are in day four of competition, so the latest changes matter across a full programme that includes finals and the conclusion of the men’s decathlon.
What is on the evening programme?
The evening session includes the men’s 200m semi-final, the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final, the men’s discus throw final, the men’s 800m final and the women’s 200m final. The decathlon also continues with the men’s decathlon javelin, men’s decathlon pole vault and men’s decathlon 1,500m final.
That is a dense programme even before the medals are handed out, and the delay means fans and athletes will be watching the clock as much as the track.
Hudson-Smith delivers on home ground
One of the biggest stories of the day came in the men’s 400m, where Matt Hudson-Smith won gold at the Alexander Stadium. The British 400m champion, who is 31, said, “Nobody is going to beat me on this track,” and also described it as his home, adding that he has been there since he was nine and knows the track like the back of his hand.
It was a statement win in front of a home crowd, and it fits the broader theme of the evening: Birmingham has already produced major moments, and there are still seven golds to come.
Other storylines to watch
Thursday brought a notable development in the women’s 800m picture, too, when Keely Hodgkinson’s biggest rival for European 800m gold was tripped and sent sprawling during the first semi-final. On Friday, the women’s 800m final is expected to include Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol.
There was also an officials’ error earlier in the men’s decathlon pole vault, when the bar was not raised. In a session already shaped by tight scheduling and heavy pressure, even small mistakes can have an impact.
For now, though, the focus stays on the evening. With seven titles to settle and the schedule delayed, the championships in Birmingham still have plenty left to deliver.
