Romell Glave wins 100m gold as Team GB dominate sprinting at European Athletics Championship after Amy Hunt success

ROMELL GLAVE produced a SPEC-tacular display to claim a shock gold in the men’s European 100 metres final. The Jamaican-born, London-nutured sprinter wooed the home fans at the Alexander Stadium as he crossed the line in 10.09 seconds. Glave, 26, was the only one in the field to don a pair of sunglasses – probably not necessary given that the final was staged at 9.47pm and under floodlights in Birmingham. Yet in an unexpected turn, he was the one shining bright in GB colours with a stunning performance – an upgrade on the bronze he claimed two years ago in Rome. Glave said: “I am the European champion. That was the job I set myself at the start of the season. “It’s an amazing accomplishment. I’m grateful to be here.” READ MORE IN SPORT He added: “We’ve been working on my start to the first 30 metres, and I was able to execute that today and to be European champion, upgrading from my bronze medal from 2024. “It’s an amazing feeling, to do it here on home soil as well in Birmingham, to be able to bring a one-two for British athletics. “It wasn’t really pressure mentally. I was ready for this occasion. It’s just physical. “I have to fill in that gap because the last week, I’ve been a bit up and down with my body. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK “I was able to come out here regardless of how I was feeling, and also show up because the objective was to win.” It has been a slow burn for Glave, who was a promising junior but then fractured his back on two occasion, the last time four years ago, and his career was hampered for several years. It was on this same track in June that he broke the ten-second barrier for the first time with a wind-legal 9.98 seconds to become the national champion. It was a British 1-2 at the Europeans as Welshman Jeremiah Azu claimed the silver in 10.16 seconds while German Owen Ansah took bronze in 10.19 seconds. Italian Marcell Jacobs, the two-time reigning European champion, pulled up at the halfway point and was seventh overall in 12.26 seconds. Louie Hinchliffe – who ran 10.30 seconds in the third semi-final – was due to compete in the final but withdrew with 10 minutes’ notice due to an injury. In the men’s 400 metres, local lad Matthew Hudson-Smith qualified comfortably for Wednesday’s final with a time of 44.78 seconds. He will be running towards a stand that has been named in his honour for these Champs. In the women’s 5,000 metres final, Hannah Nuttall was in contention for the medals but came fifth in a time of 15:41.27. Italian Nadia Battocletti defended her title as she won at a canter in 15:37.84.