Event of the Day: European Athletics Championships Day 2
Our event of the day is Day 2 of the European Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The highlights from the schedule come from the evening session, which features five medal events. There are finals in the men’s hammer throw, shotput and 10,000 metres. All eyes will be on the last two events of the day, as the session is rounded off with the women’s and men’s 100 metres. World 200 metre champion Dafne Schippers has had an inconsistent year, but will still go into the event as one of the favourites for gold. The former heptathlete will face stiff competition from Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who is the fastest woman in Europe this year. The 22-year-old is aiming for a hat-trick of gold medals at the European Championships, as she also goes in the 200 metres and 4x100 metre relay later on in the week.
Britain could finish the evening with two 100 metre champions, as Zharnel Hughes has high hopes in the men’s 100 metres. The Commonwealth champion is the joint fastest man in Europe this year with Jimmy Vicaut of France, who will also fancy his chances of a podium finish. Earlier in the day, the finals of the men’s and women’s 50-kilometre walk take place. The men’s decathlon begins in the morning session with the 100 metres, and will reach its halfway point with the 400 metres in the evening. A mouth-watering day of track and field action is in store!
Honourable mentions around the globe go to day 6 of the European Track Cycling Championships at the Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. Laura Kenny is targeting her third gold medal of the championships as her and world champion Katie Archibald compete in the Madison. There are also finals in the men’s Elimination Race, and the men’s and women’s Keirin. Additional European Championship action comes from Edinburgh, where it’s day 2 of the diving, whilst in Glasgow there is mountain biking and day 5 of the swimming and synchronised swimming. Elsewhere in the UK, recently relegated West Brom will look to improve on their opening day showing, as they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham in Championship action, and Middlesbrough host Sheffield United. Further football is on display across Europe with multiple Champions League fixtures, including Portuguese giants Benfica against Fenerbahçe. In the Vitality T20 Blast, Glamorgan face Essex and Lancashire play Durham at Old Trafford. Lancashire are also in action at Old Trafford in the Women’s Cricket Super League, as Lancashire Thunder host Surrey Stars. Preparation for the US Open continues in Montreal and Toronto, with the likes of Eugenie Bouchard, Petra Kvitová and Novak Djokovic taking to the courts at the Rogers Cup. In the United States, there is plenty of MLB on display: the New York Mets face the Cincinnati Reds, and the Oakland Athletics begin their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In sailing, day 9 of the World Championships gets underway in Denmark and Cowes Week continues in the Isle of White.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Berlin 2018