British Team Secures Bronze in Thrilling 4x400m Mixed Relay at European Indoors

Great Britain made a strong start at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, securing bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay on the opening night. The British quartet, comprising Alastair Chalmers, Emily Newnham, Joshua Faulds, and Lina Nielsen, clocked a time of 3:16.49 to secure a place on the podium in an event making its championship debut.

The Netherlands, anchored by the phenomenal Femke Bol, claimed the gold medal with a time of 3:15.63, much to the delight of the home crowd at the Omnisport Stadium. Bol, despite starting in fourth position, delivered a stellar performance to edge out Belgium and secure a dramatic victory.

The British team showed resilience and determination, with Lina Nielsen holding off Spain's Daniela Fra to ensure a podium finish. However, they were unable to catch Belgium's Helena Ponette as Bol surged ahead in the final leg.

In other events, Georgia Hunter Bell, the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist, and Revee Walcott-Nolan advanced to the women's 1500m final. Hunter Bell, the fastest European this year, controlled her heat from start to finish, winning in 4:11.31. She expressed her readiness for the final, saying, "Job done now and I'm ready for tomorrow. I like the heats; to get a run out and settle the nerves. But you need to make sure you stay out of trouble."

Neil Gourley, winner of the 2023 silver medal, also progressed to the men's 1500m final after winning his heat in 3:40.24. He will face stiff competition from world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who clocked 3:37.49 in his heat. Ingebrigtsen is aiming for a third consecutive 1500m and 3000m double at the championships, which would match the men's record of seven European indoor titles.

Ireland’s Sarah Lavin qualified for the women's 60m hurdles semi-finals by winning her heat in 7.93 seconds. The championships continue with morning and evening sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with live coverage on BBC Two.