European Athletics Championships in Birmingham: Hunt and Asher-Smith target 100m glory

The 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham continue today with a series of finals and qualifying rounds. The women's 100m final and the men's 5000m are the headline events of the evening session, with all times listed in British Summer Time. The evening programme begins with the women's shot put final at 19:03, followed by the women's hammer throw qualifying at 19:10, the women's 100m hurdles heats at 19:35, and the women's triple jump qualifying at 19:55. The women's 100m semi-finals are scheduled for 20:10. The men's shot put final takes place at 20:33, followed by the men's 5000m final at 20:40. The schedule concludes with the women's 3000m steeplechase heats at 21:00, the mixed 4x400m relay final at 21:40, and the women's 100m final at 21:50. Britain hopes to have at least two representatives in the women's 100m final, with Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith competing for medals. Asher-Smith is the defending European champion from Rome 2024, though Hunt defeated her at the British Championships in Birmingham earlier this summer. Luxembourg's Patrizia van der Weken is also considered a strong contender. In the men's 5000m, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who holds six European gold medals and has never won silver or bronze at these championships, returns to competition following a year hampered by injury and illness. His primary rivals include France's Jimmy Gressier, the reigning world 10,000m champion, and Belgium's Isaac Kimeli. Ireland's mixed 4x400m relay team failed to qualify to defend their title, opening the door for Britain, Norway, and Belgium to contend for gold in the event, which features two men and two women per team. In the field events, Jessica Schilder is a favourite for the women's shot put, while Italy's Leonardo Fabbri is tipped for gold in the men's shot put.