Past and present GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) athletes have made an impressive start to the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, with athletes representing Team GB and Team Ireland across the opening three days of competition.
From two European medals and multiple championship finals to strong performances in heats and semi-finals, there has already been plenty to celebrate and with several more GSF athletes still to compete, there is plenty more to come.
Day One – Monday 10 August
The Championships got underway on Monday with GSF athletes competing across a wide range of events. In the men's 800m, GSF Alumni Alex Botterill finished sixth in Heat 3 for Team GB. The women's 100m saw three GSF athletes take to the track. GSF Alumni Lauren Roy, representing Team Ireland, finished sixth in Heat 1. In the semi finals, Ambassador Imani-Lara Lansiquot finished third and National Ambassador Daryll Neita came 6th. Alumni Dina Asher-Smith went on to finish fifth in the final with a season's best.
There was a strong start for GSF Alumni Lina Nielsen in the women's 400m hurdles, as she won her heat to progress to the next round. In the women's 100m hurdles, Emma Nwofor finished fourth in Heat 1 to progress to the semi-finals.
In the field events, alumni Scott Lincoln finished second in Group B qualifying in the men's shot put, before placing an impressive fourth in the final. Charlotte Payne finished fifth in Group B qualifying in the women's hammer throw, securing her place in the next stage of the competition.
Day Two – Tuesday 11 August
Tuesday delivered a memorable night for GSF athletes, with Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu claiming gold and silver respectively in the men's 100m final to complete a fantastic Team GB and GSF one-two. Romell won in 10.09 seconds, with Jeremiah crossing the line in 10.16. In the women's 800m, Erin Wallace finished fifth in Heat 2.
There was also a strong performance in the women's 5000m final, where GSF Alumni Hannah Nuttall finished fifth.
In the women's 100m hurdles, GSF Alumni Marcia Sey finished second in Semi-Final 1 to qualify for the final, where she finished eighth. Emma Nwofor came in sixth in Semi-Final 1. Alumni Lina Nielsen continued her progress in the women's 400m hurdles, finishing second in Semi-Final 3 to secure her place in the final. Joshua Faulds made an excellent start to his men's 400m hurdles campaign, winning Heat 1 to progress to the semi-finals. GSF Alumni Samuel Bennett progressed in the men's 110m hurdles, winning Heat 3.
Day Three – Wednesday 12 August
The strong performances continued on Wednesday, with GSF athletes featuring in finals and semi-finals across the programme.
In the women's hammer throw, GSF Alumni Charlotte Payne followed up her qualification by finishing sixth in the final. Lina Nielsen lined up in the women's 400m hurdles final, also finishing sixth after her impressive run through the heats and semi-finals. In the men's 110m hurdles, Samuel Bennett progressed to the final, finishing seventh. Joshua Faulds continued his men's 400m hurdles campaign alongside Jake Minshull, with them both finishing fifth in their Semi-Finals.
Alumni Dina Asher-Smith continued her impressive Championships with victory in Semi-Final 1 of the women's 200m, securing her place in Thursday's final. Success Eduan also booked her place in the women's 200m final after finishing third in Semi-Final 3. Lauren Roy also represented Team Ireland in the 200m event, finishing fourth in Heat 1 before placing fourth in Semi-Final 2.
More GSF athletes to watch
With the Championships running until Sunday, there are still plenty of opportunities to see past and present GSF athletes representing their countries on the European stage.
Thursday 13 August
The women's 200m final is one of the major events to look forward to, with both Dina Asher-Smith and Success Eduan set to line up. Dina will be looking to add another major championship medal following her fifth-place finish in the 100m, while Success will be competing in her first European senior final.
GSF Alumni Will Battershill will also compete in Round 1 of the men's 3000m steeplechase, with the final scheduled for Sunday 16 August. In the women's 400m, Alumni Amber Anning will compete in the semi-finals as she looks to secure her place in Saturday's final.
Friday 14 August
The men's 4x400m relay heats will see Alumni athletes Sam Reardon and Sam Lunt looking to help Team GB progress. In the women's 4x400m relay, Alumni Amber Anning and Lina Nielsen will be ready to represent Team GB.
There will also be an individual appearance for Jake Heyward, who will compete in the men's 1500m heats, with the aim of progressing to Saturday's final.
Saturday 15 August
The 4x100m relays will provide another exciting opportunity for a number of GSF athletes. Team GB's women's relay entries include Daryll Neita, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Success Eduan, Dina Asher-Smith and Kristal Ama-Awuah. GSF Alumni Lauren Roy is also entered for Team Ireland's women's 4x100m relay.
In the men's 4x100m, Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu are among the Team GB entries, following their memorable gold and silver performances in the individual 100m.
Away from the relay action, Joe Wigfield and GSF Alumni Scott Beattie will line up in the men's 10,000m final.
Sunday 16 August
The final day of the Championships promises to be another busy one for GSF athletes.
Clara Evans-Graham and GSF Alumni Mahamad Mahamad will compete in the marathon events.
The finals of the men's and women's 4x400m relays will also take place, with GSF athletes hoping to help Team GB finish the Championships on a high. There will also be a mixed 4x100m relay, with Team GB's entries including Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Success Eduan, Alumni Jeremiah Azu and Alumni Dina Asher-Smith.
Keep following our GSF athletes
It has already been a fantastic opening three days for our past and present GSF athletes, with Romell Glave taking European gold and Jeremiah Azu claiming silver, alongside a host of finalists and strong performances across the Championships.
For the GLL Sport Foundation, seeing so many athletes who have received support from the Foundation go on to compete at the highest level is something we are incredibly proud of. Congratulations to everyone who has competed so far, and the very best of luck to all our athletes still to take to the track and road in Birmingham!
