Turkey’s Yasemin Can won the first gold medal of the European Championships after a dominant display in the women’s 10,000m on Wednesday evening (6).

The quickest European of 2016 coming into the race, she went faster still on a cool, breezy evening in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, clocking 31:12.86 to take her first European title.

Defending champion Jo Pavey led through 2000m in 6:15, but from there it was all about Can. She surged to the front and no one went with her. By 3000m the 19-year-old held a 30-metre lead, an advantage she continued to extend in the laps that followed. “I tried to see whether anyone was following me, but nobody was, so I kept running on,” said Can.

She built a 70-metre gap by halfway, passing 5000m in 15:30.

There appeared to be no coming back for the chasing pack, which at that point was led by Portuguese pair Sara Moreira and Ana Dulce Felix. The group they headed began to wilt, and it was broken up further when Felix attempted to close the gap on Can with seven laps to go. It was a brave move that left her running alone, and though she reduced the arrears somewhat, it was all too late to catch Can, who finished with a personal best.

Felix, who won gold in the event in 2012, was rewarded with the silver medal and a PB of 31:19.03. “This is a very emotional moment for me,” said the 33-year-old, who crossed the line thinking of her late father. “I’m so happy with this silver medal.”

Pavey put in a surge with 600m to run, and though she moved from eighth to fifth, she had left it too late to snatch a medal. Bronze went to Karoline Grovdal of Norway, whose 31:23.25 was also a personal best. Ireland's Fionnuala McCormack was fourth in 31:30.74.

Throwing in new territory

The women’s discus qualifiers were held in Amsterdam’s Museumplein. The unique setting inspired 15 women to go beyond the automatic qualifying mark of 58 metres. Germany’s Julia Fischer was the most inspired, reaching 66.20m with her opening effort to lead the standings. Croatia’s world champion and world leader Sandra Perkovic finished ranked second with a first-round throw of 65.25m.

The men’s javelin qualifying was also at Museumplein, where a throw of 81.50m was needed to automatically book a spot in the final. Defending champion Antti Ruuskanen was the best of the lot, his 88.23m suggesting that Germany’s Thomas Rohler, who is ranked number one in the world this year, won’t have things all his own way in tomorrow’s final.

2007 world champion Tero Pitkamaki, who last year won world bronze, could only reach 80.52m and will play no further part.

Defending champions advance

Women’s hammer qualifying was led by the current and former world record-holders. Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk, on the hunt for a third straight European title, underlined her dominance with a 73.94m second effort. Betty Heidler, whose record Wlodarczyk broke in 2014, was next best with 71.46m. France’s world bronze medallist Alexandra Tavernier crashed out after fouling all three efforts.

European indoor champion Michel Torneus led the way in men’s long jump qualifying with 8.19m. It wasn’t so simple for world and Olympic champion Greg Rutherford. The Brit admitted to being “rusty” on the runway, and opened his European title defence with 7.93m before fouling his two remaining efforts as the wind affected his run up. It left him tied for eighth – just enough to see him through to the final, which takes place on Thursday.

The wind died somewhat in the afternoon, and Serbian Ivana Spanovic made light work of progressing in the women’s long jump, qualifying automatically with a first-round leap of 6.90m.

Similarly, Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie needed only one attempt to qualify in the pole vault, his 5.60m first-time clearance enough to top the lot, while defending high jump champion Ruth Beitia was one of three women to surpass the 1.92m automatic qualifying height.

World shot put champion Christina Schwanitz also eased into tomorrow’s final, registering 19.02m with her single effort.

Much of the focus in the women’s 800m was on Yuliya Stepanova. The Russian athlete was competing under a European Athletics flag, but limped over the line after injury hit just past the 600m mark, which forced her to step off the track. 

Renelle Lamote (2:01.60) and Selina Buchel (2:04.50) looked most in control, both recording easy wins in their respective heats.

Sprinters ease through

In the day’s sprint and hurdle events, any athlete ranked inside Europe’s top 12 was given an automatic bye to the semi-finals. That applied to Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain in the women’s 200m. The 20-year-old impressed from the gun, racing away from the field on the bend and relaxing through the straight to win in 22.57.

That time was equalled by Bulgaria’s Ivet Lalova-Collio, who won her semi-final after pulling away in the final 30 metres. With Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands focusing on the 100m, the gold will likely go to one of those two in tomorrow’s final.

Two-time 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu has never won an individual medal at an outdoor European Championships. The Brit didn’t have the luxury of a bye, but won her heat comfortably in 52.69. Nicky van Leuveren delighted the home crowd by winning in 52.45 – the best time of the day.

Elsewhere, Ramil Guliyev of Turkey was fastest in the men’s 100m with 10.21, while Slovakia’s Martin Kucera was the only man to dip under 50 seconds in the 400m hurdles, winning the last heat in 49.56.

Thomas Byrne for IAAF

In the European Championships decathlon, part of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge, a strong second-day performance from Thomas van der Plaetsen gave Belgium their first ever outdoor continental combined events title.

The 100m got action going on the track on what was a fresh, blustery morning. Oleksiy Kasyanov, who took silver four years ago in Helsinki, started the day as he would end it – with a slender overall lead.

The Ukrainian was comfortably fastest overall in the opening event in 10.79. Norway’s Martin Roe was second fastest in 10.86, with Serbian Mihail Dudas third in 10.90.

Van der Plaetsen ruled the long jump. His 7.64m was eight centimetres farther than Ashley Bryant of Britain, who was second best in the event. Roe went out to 7.50m to take the overall lead by a point from Kasyanov, who could only hit 7.43m. Dudas jumped 7.44m to stay third overall.

In the shot put, popular Belgian Hans van Alphen led the way with 15.62m. France’s 2010 European champion Romain Barras (15.54m) and Norway’s Lars Vikan Rise (15.17m) were the only others to go beyond 15 metres. There was no change in the overall medal places as Roe threw 14.58m to Kasyanov’s 14.51m and Dudas’s 14.24m.

That order was upset in the high jump, though, as Roe slipped down to sixth after clearing just 1.89m. That allowed Kasyanov to move into first after going over 1.98m, while Dudas also bumped up a place after going over 2.01m.

The big mover was Van der Plaetsen. His 2.10m clearance was only matched by Krisjan Rosenberg, and saw him leap up to third overall. Rosenberg was rewarded by moving into seventh.

Kasyanov highlighted his sprinting ability by finishing fastest overall in the 400m to close the day. The nearest anyone got to his 48.97 clocking was Dudas, who finished in 49.45. Just 35 points separated the pair at the end of the first day while Spain’s Jorge Urena was in third and Van der Plaetsen was fourth.

As he had been in day one’s sprint events, Kasyanov was fastest in the 110m hurdles in 13.93. Urena stuck with him to record a personal best of 13.95 that saw him move into the silver medal position ahead of Dudas, who was more than half a second back in 14.55.

But Urena’s medal hopes faded in the very next event. He fouled all three attempts of the discus, dumping him out of the running.

Kasyanov was short of his best but a 42.56m throw kept him in top spot. Dudas’s 45.65m – the third-best throw overall – allowed him to move into the silver medal position, while Van der Plaetsen’s 44.32m moved him up to third.

The Belgian continued to rise in the pole vault. While Kasyanov (4.80m) and Dudas (4.70m) toiled, Van der Plaetsen relished the full attention of the crowd, clearing 5.40m – his best ever in a decathlon – to take the overall lead.

Having struggled with an elbow injury this year, the javelin was going to be Van der Plaetsen’s most challenging event of the contest. Although his 57.23m opening throw was eight metres down on his best, it kept him in medal contention. His spear landed beyond 60 metres on his final attempt, but his toe just dipped over the line and it was ruled a foul.

Kasyanov, clearly experiencing some pain in his groin, managed just 48.23m which saw him drop back to fourth. A personal best of 67.24m from Czech Adam Sebastian Helcelet put him second, while Dudas stayed in third with a 58.19m best.

A scan of the 1500m PBs suggested Van der Plaetsen would be able to hold on to pole position but Helcelet and Dudas were still within close proximity. He nonetheless left nothing to chance in only his third decathlon since recovering from testicular cancer, finishing in 4:37.84 to take gold with a score of 8218.

“It is difficult to say if this is my greatest win, but it is definitely the one I cherish the most after everything that happened last year,” Van der Platsen said.

Helcelet was 0.55 back from Van der Plaetsen in the 1500m to take silver with 8157. Dudas, who just missed out on the podium in 2012, earned his first major senior medal with a score of 8153.

Thomas Byrne for the IAAF

Day two of the European Championships saw seven gold medals dished out in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium on Thursday (7).

The most popular winner was Churandy Martina, the Dutchman delighting the home crowd by taking gold in a tight 100m final at the close of the day.

Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut was the pre-race favourite, but at 60m he hadn’t shaken off Jak Ali Harvey of Turkey. Harvey looked to have pulled slightly clear, only for Martina to time his dip to perfection to finish in 10.07.

Harvey was given the same time, but the photo finish showed the 32-year-old Martina as winner. The crowd erupted for the host’s first gold of the championships. Vicaut took bronze, just 0.01 back.

“I ran a good race,” said a beaming Martina. The last time a Dutch sprinter won the men's European 100m title was back in 1938 when Martinus Osendarp took gold. Martina's victory also marked the first time that a European Championships host nation had won the men's 100m title.

Dina Asher-Smith won the women’s 200m in style. The Brit blitzed the bend and held a clear lead over 2012 European 100m champion Ivet Lalova-Collio as they hit the straight. The 20-year-old never looked troubled, crossing the line in 22.37 to become the first British winner of the title.

“I put myself in a good position and so I got a good start. I’m over the moon,” said Asher-Smith of her maiden title as a senior.

Lalova-Collio closed out to win silver in 22.52, while 20-year-old German Gina Luckenkemper showed great poise in the final 20 metres to take bronze in 22.74.

Another German, Cindy Roleder, prevailed in the 100m hurdles. She was sluggish out of the blocks but pulled away in the second half of the race to stop the clock at 12.62 – the fastest time by any European this year. Alina Talay of Belarus picked up silver in 12.68, while 2014 champion Tiffany Porter had to settle for bronze in 12.76.

Rutherford, Beitia and Schwanitz win again

In the long jump, Greg Rutherford demonstrated for an umpteenth time why he holds every outdoor title available to him.

After opening with 8.12m (-2.6m/s), his lead was taken by European indoor champion Michel Torneus, the Swede going out to a wind-assisted 8.21m (2.1m/s).

With the wind swirling, Rutherford found his winning formula in round five, going out to 8.25m (0.5m/s) to retain his title.

“It’s good to be the best in Europe again,” Rutherford said. “It is now about being the best in the world again.”

Torneus, the only other man to jump beyond eight metres, took silver while Dutchman Ignisious Gaisah took bronze with 7.93m.

Another seasoned performer prevailed in the women’s high jump. Ruth Beitia won her third successive title with a season’s best of 1.98m.

“The fact it is here in Amsterdam makes it doubly special,” said the 37-year-old, who won European under-23 gold in the same stadium 15 years ago.

Bulgarian Mirela Demireva and Lithuania’s Airine Palsyte cleared 1.96m without any previous failures before both fouling out at 1.98m, sharing the silver medal.

Christina Schwanitz was dominant as she retained shot put gold. Any one of her four legal throws would have won the competition, but it was her first – a season’s best of 20.17m – that measured as her winner.

“My motivation was last year’s [performance],” said the German, referring to the world title she also owns. “This is too much for me.”

Hungary’s European indoor champion Anita Marton had to settle for silver with 18.72m. Bronze went to Turkish record-holder Emel Dereli courtesy of a third-round 18.22m.

Vitezslav Vesely looked to have taken advantage in the javelin as world leader Thomas Rohler struggled. The Czech threw 83.59m to take a slender lead over Finland’s defending champion Antti Ruuskanen (82.44m) at half way.

But in round five, world junior record-holder Zigismunds Sirmais produced a personal best of 86.66m to leapfrog them both into first. There was no further movement in the medal places, meaning the Latvian picked up the senior European gold to go with the under-23 and junior titles from earlier in his career.

National records fall in 400m hurdles

There were a brace of national records in the men’s 400m hurdles semifinals.

Decathlete Karsten Warholm became the fastest Norwegian ever by edging a close first semifinal in 48.84, reigning champion Kariem Hussein just 0.03 back. Yasmani Escobar Copello won his semifinal in a 48.42 Turkish record, the fastest run by any European this year to move to second on the 2016 world list.

Elsewhere in qualifying, world indoor bronze medallist Ekaterini Stefanidi cleared 4.50m to advance into the pole vault final. Solomon Bockarie and Bruno Hortelano were fastest in the men’s 200m heats, both in 20.55.

Defending champions Martyn Rooney and Libania Grenot were fastest in the 400m semifinals.

Rooney won his race in 45.04 while past European champions Kevin Borlee and Pawel Maslak also moved through to the final.

Grenot comfortably won her semifinal in 50.43. Two-time world champion Christine Ohuruogu also advanced.

At Museumplein, Katharina Molitor (60.75m) and Barbora Spotakova (63.73m) – the world and European champions respectively – led the javelin qualifiers to advance to Saturday’s final. In the afternoon’s event in downtown Amsterdam, world discus champion Piotr Malachowski threw 64.15m to coast into Sunday’s final.

Thomas Byrne for the IAAF

There were mixed emotions for Netherlands sprint fans on a raucous third day of the European Championships in Amsterdam on Friday (8).

While Dafne Schippers blitzed to 100m gold, her compatriot Churandy Martina suffered heartbreak as he was disqualified for a lane infringement after crossing the line first in the 200m.

Schippers brought the night to a noisy close with a forceful winning run in the 100m. Her margin of victory (0.30) was the biggest in the event since her countrywoman Fanny Blankers-Koen won in 1950.

It was fairly even until 50m, at which point Schippers pulled away with menacing pace. She crossed the line in 10.90 (-0.2m/s) to become the first woman this century to win-back-to-back European crowns.

“The audience’s applause gave me goose bumps,” said Schippers, who won her semifinal earlier in the evening in 10.96 (-1.0m/s). “It was quite windy so it was difficult to set a good time, but I’m shaping up well for Rio.”

Bulgarian Ivet Lalova-Collio finished in 11.20 to take silver, her second of this championships. Bronze went to Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland, upgrading on her fourth-place finish two years ago.

Martina, fresh from taking 100m gold last night, was first home in the men’s 200m. Yet replays showed he stepped out of his lane early on the bend and he was disqualified. That meant Spain’s Bruno Hortelano, who had run a national record of 20.39 in the semifinal, took gold in 20.45.

“It is the most amazing feeling in the world,” said a stunned Hortelano. “I went out to have a good race and that’s all I did and it gave me a medal.”

All that drama meant silver went to Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev in 20.51, while Britain’s Danny Talbot earned bronze in 20.56.

One-lappers retain titles

Martyn Rooney won the 400m title for the second time on the bounce after a brilliant second bend. Two-time world indoor champion Pavel Maslak put in a late burst, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Rooney who held on to win in 45.29.

“To defend a title is great,” the 29-year-old said. “Last time I won I was relieved; this time I’m elated.”

Maslak came home for silver in 45.36. Bronze went to Dutchman Liemarvin Bonevacia in 45.41, the home crowd erupting when his medal was confirmed.

Libania Grenot was classy in the 400m semifinals and a cut above in the final as she won her second straight European title. It never looked in doubt as the Italian came off the bend with a clear lead to finish in 50.73.

Floria Guei of France took silver, almost half a second back on Grenot in 51.21. Anyika Onuora just held off her British teammate Christine Ohuruogu to earn bronze in a season’s best of 51.47.

Later in the evening, Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad – who struggled with injuries last season – looked comfortable as he took gold in the 3000m steeplechase in 8:25.63. It is his third European title in the event.

“The gold medal is important for me but it was also training. My main objective is Rio,” the two-time Olympic silver medallist said. Turkey’s Aras Kaya ran a personal best of 8:29.91 for silver, while France’s defending champion Yoann Kowal took bronze in 8:30.79.

Yasmani Copello was victorious in the men’s 400m hurdles. After a sharp start, he left enough in his legs to close quickly and win Turkey’s second gold of the championships in 48.98.

Spaniard Sergio Fernandez (49.06) took silver, just edging out 2014 champion Kariem Hussein (49.10), who faded after pushing hard on the second bend.

The men’s 10,000m was dominated by Turkish pair Polat Arikan and Ali Kaya. The training partners ran on their own, side-by-side, way out in front. It wasn’t quite a sprint finish, but Arikan pulled away from Kaya in the final 30 metres to take gold in 28:18.52.

Kaya’s silver was won in 28:21.52. Behind him Spaniard Antonio Abadia took bronze in 28:26.07.

Polish joy, Serbian history

In breezy conditions, France’s world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie entered the pole vault final at 5.75m, by which time everyone else had bowed out. But three fouls meant the Olympic champion joined them, only unlike his rivals he didn’t have a clearance to his name.

That left Poland’s Robert Sobera as the winner. He had cleared 5.60m first time to prevail over Czech Jan Kudlicka, who needed two attempts to go over the same height.

“I didn’t expect gold but I’m very happy,” said Sobera. “Maybe the wind was a problem [for the other athletes] but for me it was not.”

Bronze went to Slovenia’s Robert Renner courtesy of his first-time clearances up to 5.50m.

Hammer winner Anita Wlodarczyk treated the Amsterdam crowd to an exhibition. The world champion got better with every throw, topping out with a 78.14m for the Pole’s third straight European title.

Germany’s Betty Heidler produced a season’s best of 75.77m to take silver. Azerbaijan’s Hanna Skydan claimed bronze with 73.83m.

Ivana Spanovic created history in the long jump, despite being short of her absolute best. A second-round leap of 6.94m gave her the lead. In-form Briton Jazmin Sawyers came closest to unseating her with a wind-assisted 6.86m, but that was only good enough for silver as Spanovic became the first Serbian woman to win a gold medal at the European Championships.

“I wasn’t really at my normal level,” Spanovic said. “I believe I will be much stronger in Rio.”

German Malaika Mihambo and Estonian Ksenija Balta both jumped 6.65m, but bronze went to Mihambo by virtue of having a superior second-best jump.

Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic had few problems in retaining her discus crown. She took the lead in round four before sailing out to 69.97m with her fifth effort to seal her fourth European title.

“I thank the crowd for achieving this,” she said. “After this competition I am ready for everything.”

Germany’s Julia Fischer took silver courtesy of her 65.77m best effort, while her compatriot Shanice Craft joined her on the podium with a best of 63.89m.

Vetter leads heptathlon after first day

Despite horrific rain, Antoinette Nana Djimou started smartly in the heptathlon – part of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge – in pursuit of a third straight European title.

Her 13.26 in the 100m hurdles left her top of the standings. Anouk Vetter was second fastest overall with a PB of 13.29, while Czech Katerina Cachova was third fastest in 13.33.

By the time the high jump began, the rains had cleared but the wind made it feel cooler than the 18C the thermometer claimed.

Nana Djimou could only clear 1.71m and dropped down to fifth, while Vetter’s 1.74m moved her into first. 2013 world champion Hanna Kasyanova moved into second overall after clearing 1.77m.

Britain’s Morgan Lake was the best by far. The 19-year-old cleared 1.89m – nine centimetres better than anyone else – to move into third overall, tied for points with Gyorgyi Zsivoczky-Farkas.

Nana Djimou then produced a personal best of 16.17m in the shot put. It was the second-best throw of the entire field and put her back into first place, but only by a point over Vetter, whose PB of 15.69m was the third-best throw of the day. Topping the shot put was Austra Skujyte of Lithuania; her 16.31m elevated her to third overall.

Vetter was fastest overall in the 200m, the last heptathlon event of the day. Her 23.89 didn’t just delight the home crowd, it also gave her a 96-point lead over Nana Djimou, who could only manage 24.92. She sits second overall. Austria’s Ivona Dadic is currently in third place after producing a season’s best of 24.11 to finish her day 71 points behind the reigning champion.

Nadine Broersen, the 2014 world indoor champion, is currently in ninth but is expected to move up the standings tomorrow and challenge for medals. Zsivoczky-Farkas and fellow Hungarian Xenia Krizsan, currently 10th and sixth respectively, could also get close to the podium tomorrow.

No surprises in qualifying

In the evening’s qualifying rounds, world indoor champion Sifan Hassan breezed through to Sunday’s 1500m final, where she will expect to retain title she clinched two years ago in Zurich.

In the 800m semifinals, Adam Kszczot of Poland, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of France and Amel Tuka of Bosnia all advanced to the final.

In the morning session, Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause advanced safely in the steeplechase. Milan Trajkovic won his heat in a Cypriot record 13.39 in the 110m hurdles, despite torrential rain.

Ukraine’s Olga Saladukha qualified for the triple jump final as she goes after her fourth straight title. World champion Pawel Fajdek fouled his first two throws before qualifying for the hammer final with 78.82m, the best throw of the preliminary round.

Thomas Byrne for the IAAF

Overnight leader Anouk Vetter was imperious in the European Championships heptathlon on Saturday (9) as she claimed gold while succeeding Dafne Schippers as the Dutch record-holder in the process.

Vetter tallied 6626 in the event, part of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge, 81 points better than the mark Schippers set in June 2014, shortly before she shifted her focus permanently to the sprints.

“It’s really crazy – I’m European champion!” said a delighted Vetter. “It gives me confidence on the way to Rio. Having the national record from Dafne is crazy.”

Crazy, but true.

Despite horrific rain on Friday (8), Frenchwoman Antoinette Nana Djimou started smartly in pursuit of a third straight European title.

Her 13.26 in the 100m hurdles left her top of the standings. Vetter was second fastest overall with a PB of 13.29, while Czech Katerina Cachova was third fastest in 13.33

By the time the high jump began, the rains had cleared but the wind made it feel cooler than the 18C the thermometer claimed.

Nana Djimou could only clear 1.71m and dropped down to fifth, while Vetter’s 1.74m moved her into first. Hanna Kasyanova, the 2013 world champion, moved into second overall after clearing 1.77m.

Britain’s Morgan Lake was the best by far. The 19-year-old cleared 1.89m – nine centimetres better than anyone else – to move into third overall, tied for points with Gyorgyi Zsivoczky-Farkas.

Nana Djimou then produced a personal best of 16.17m in the shot put. It was the second-best throw of the entire field and put her back into first place, but only by a point over Vetter, whose PB of 15.69m was the third-best throw of the day. Topping the shot put was Austra Skujyte of Lithuania; her 16.31m elevated her to third overall.

Vetter was fastest overall in the 200m, the last heptathlon event of the day. Her 23.89 didn’t just delight the home crowd, it also gave her a 96-point lead over Nana Djimou, who could only manage 24.92. Austria’s Ivona Dadic sat in third behind Nana Djimou after producing a season’s best of 24.11 to finish her day 71 points behind the reigning champion.

The 23-year-old Vetter went out to 6.38m (which would have been a personal best but for the 2.9m/s wind) in the long jump, the second day’s opening event. That was second best of all the athletes and enough to keep her in top spot overall. Her fellow Dutchwoman Nadine Broersen was two centimetres better, lifting her to fourth.

Nana Djimou recorded a season’s best of 6.31m to stay in second place, while Austria’s Ivona Dadic stayed in third after a jump of 6.32m.

Vetter did get a PB in the javelin. Her third effort of 55.76m represented a two-metre improvement on her previous best, and gave her a near 200-point lead over Nana Djimou, who recorded 51.72m.

Dadic’s 47.92m was enough to keep her in bronze medal position ahead of Nadine Broersen, the 2014 world indoor champion, who hit a season’s best of 52.31m (though she ended her competition there on doctor’s orders). Greek Sofia Ifantidou led the field in the event with a heptathlon championship best, sailing out to 56.36m.

Vetter was virtually guaranteed the gold going into the 800m. But she also had the national record in sight, and with the rowdy Amsterdam crowd willing her on, she did not hold back.

She crossed the line in 2:21.50, only a second outside her personal best. Her win was confirmed with the third-best performance in the world this year.

Nana Djimou finished her 800m in 2:19.33 to claim silver with 6458. Dadic was third fastest overall in the 800m in 2:12.83. It was her second-best clocking to date and landed her 6408 points – an improvement on the national record she set in Gotzis in May.

Thomas Byrne for the IAAF

Ekaterini Stefanidi produced a championship record to win the pole vault to highlight day four of the European Championships in Amsterdam on Saturday (9).

The Greek vaulter handled the swirling winds in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium with aplomb, claiming gold by clearing first time at each height up to 4.70m.

The 2014 silver medallist then had the bar set to 4.81m – one up on Yelena Isinbayeva’s best from Gothenburg in 2006. She failed her first two attempts after struggling with the crosswind, and though she left the bar rattling with her third effort, it stayed put.

“I am ecstatic,” the 26-year-old said. “With 4.70m I was pretty sure I had won the title, but I also wanted the championship record.”

And she got it, as well as her first European title.

Germany’s Lisa Ryzih cleared 4.70m at the second attempt before retiring with a tender hamstring. Swede Angelica Bengtsson went over a season’s best of 4.65m to claim the bronze.

Can completes distance double

Yasemin Can of Turkey sealed a distance double by taking gold in the women’s 5000m. Three nights on from running away with the 10,000m title, it was largely the same story again, as she pulled away early and sustained the gap to cross the line in 15:18.15.

The battle behind Can was a more engaging affair. The chasing pack slowly split up as the laps passed, and Sweden’s Meraf Bafta emerged strongest as she won silver in 15:20.54. Briton Steph Twell also closed strongly to take bronze in 15:20.70 – a brilliant performance from a woman who has struggled with injuries more than most.

There were records of another sort in the women’s javelin.

Tatsiana Khaladovich went out to 66.34m – the third best throw in the world this year – in round two to improve her own Belarusian record and win the gold medal.

Sara Kolak produced a third-round 63.50m for a Croatian record, although it was only enough for bronze after Germany’s Linda Stahl pulled out a last-round 65.25m for silver.

World record-holder and world leader Barbora Spotakova looked short of her best, only able to reach 62.66m to finish fifth behind world champion Katharina Molitor.

World discus champion Piotr Malachowski added another European gold to his collection. The Pole hit 67.06m in the fourth round to pick up his second continental title.

Philip Milanov of Belgium took silver with 65.71m. Bronze went to Estonian Gerd Kanter, his 65.27m second-round effort his best of his series and his season.

A European lead and personal best of 17.20m from Max Hess won the German triple jump gold. The world indoor silver medallist’s winning mark was his only legal jump of the contest, having fouled three and passed on two of his other efforts.

Poland’s Karol Hoffmann produced a personal best of his own (17.16m) in round three to claim silver over Britain's Julian Reid, whose opening 16.76m was enough for bronze.

Brothers rejoice in 1500m

Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen had the fastest personal best of the field coming into the 1500m final and was favourite for the title in Amsterdam. Yet it was his younger brother Filip who prevailed in a cagey race.

A leisurely 2:10 for the first 800m meant it was always going to be thus, with Filip Ingebrigtsen having the most left in his legs after the race took off at the bell. He was stunned as he took gold in 3:46.65.

“This is incredible. I can’t believe I’ve won,” he said, relishing the title all the more after failing to make the final two years ago.

Henrik, who took silver in the same event two years ago and gold in 2012, came home for bronze in 3:47.18. Sandwiched between the two was Spaniard David Bustos, who claimed silver in 3:46.90.

Dimitri Bascou won gold in the 110m hurdles in 13.25. He had been fastest in the semis (13.20) and stepped up in the final to claim his first senior title.

“I am very excited,” said the proud Frenchman. “I made a little mistake but luckily I could go on.”

Balazs Baji produced a Hungarian record to claim silver in 13.28. Another Frenchman, world junior champion Wilhem Belocian, ran 13.33 for bronze.

The women’s 800m was won by Ukraine's Nataliya Pryshchepa. The race was there to be won with all eight runners bunched up as they hit 600m in 1:29.67.

Coming off the final bend, Pryshchepa – who has seen her personal best improve by more than five seconds this year – had to use her hands as well as feet to squeeze through a gap between Rennelle Lamote of France and Selina Buchel of Switzerland. The space opened with 30 metres to go, and she rifled through to claim Ukraine’s first gold of the championships in 1:59.70.

Lamote held on for silver in 2:00.19, but Buchel was run down by Sweden's Lovisa Lindh, who took bronze with a personal best of 2:00.37.

British teams set relay standard

In the day’s qualifying rounds, the British teams owned the relays. Each of the men’s and women’s teams in both the 4x100m and 4x400m were fastest overall. They will be favourites for all four titles in tomorrow’s finals.

Germany's two-time world champion David Storl was the best in shot put qualifying, throwing his way into the final with a first-time 20.84m. The men’s high jump was a breeze for world indoor champion Gianmarco Tamberi, who had no failures on his way to clearing 2.25m to advance.

Later in the day Sara Slott Petersen, fourth at the World Championships last year, was quickest in the 400m hurdles semis in 55.59.

Thomas Byrne for the IAAF

Poland finished top of the medal table at the 2016 European Championships after a hat trick of golds on Sunday (10) in Amsterdam.

The most inevitable of those was Pawel Fajdek’s in the men’s hammer. The world champion’s 80.46m opener would have been enough to win, but he produced five more throws that none of his competitors could better, just to be sure.

A fifth-round 80.93m was his best, and ensured that he upgraded on the silver he won two years ago in Zurich. It is his 27th straight victory. Ivan Tikhon of Belarus won silver with a last-round 78.84m that saw him leapfrog Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki, whose third-round 77.53m was enough for bronze.

In the men’s 800m, Adam Kszczot hit the front at the final bend after Thijmen Kupers led the field through 400m in 52.51. From there the Pole was never troubled as he sped away for gold in 1:45.18.

“I defended my title – this was my day,” Kszczot said.

His countryman Marcin Lewandowski, who had stuck close to Kupers at the front, was able to hold his form to pip Briton Elliot Giles for silver as both were given a time of 1:45.54.

The third Polish gold came in the women’s 1500m. 2014 champion Sifan Hassan didn’t take advantage of her status as the fastest in the field, allowing a pedestrian affair to play out as the single group of athletes passed 800m in 2:46.

At that point Hassan, the world indoor champion, manoeuvred to the front, but didn’t pull away. Off the final bend the athletes were still bunched. Angelika Cichocka picked her moment perfectly, speeding past Hassan to take gold in 4:33.00.

“I was happy that it was a slow start because I knew I had a strong finish,” said Cichocka, who upgrades on her European indoor silver medal from last year.

Hassan just held on for silver in 4:33.76. Ireland’s Ciara Mageean finished strong for bronze in 4:33.76.

In the day’s first track event, Sara Slott Petersen won the women’s 400m hurdles in 55.12. The Dane took the lead coming off the second bend after a determined start. She then repelled the late drive of Poland’s Joanna Linkiewicz (silver in 55.33) and Switzerland’s Lea Sprunger (bronze in 55.41).

“I hope this is the start of something special,” said Petersen, whose gold is her first as a senior.

Storl completes hat trick

David Storl is fast becoming one of the most decorated athletes in the sport. The 25-year-old German is already a double world champion, and in Amsterdam he won his third straight European outdoor title with a fifth-round 21.31m.

“This result helps me,” said Storl, who hasn’t hit full form this season. “Rio is the big target. This is one step closer.”

Poland’s Michal Haratyk threw 21.19m in round four for silver. Portugal’s Tsanko Arnaudov took bronze courtesy of a season’s best of 20.59m with his opener.

Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi added to his world indoor title with the European high jump crown.

The 24-year-old, who tackled his first heights wearing basketball shorts, cleared first time up to 2.32m, which was enough to secure gold. He had three cracks at 2.40m, and though each effort looked technically good, he could not find the height to join the exclusive club.

“When I started jumping I had a good feeling,” Tamberi said. “I tried 2.40m because it was [above] my record. I would like to jump higher in the future.”

Briton Robbie Grabarz cleared 2.29m first time for silver. Chris Baker and German Eike Onnen shared bronze after both needed two attempts to clear the same height.

The finish in the men’s 5000m was a classic.

Hayle Ibrahimov set a reasonable pace, passing 3000m in 8:25. He still led at the bell (12:45) but as the final lap wore on, his energy departed him.

That wasn’t the case for Spaniards Ilias Fifa and Adel Mechaal, German Richard Ringer, Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen and France’s Mourad Amdouni, who sped past the Azerbaijani pace setter with 80 metres to go.

From there it was chaotic and close. Ingebrigtsen appeared to time his burst to perfection, but his dip wasn’t quite there as he, Ringer, Mechaal and Fifa crossed the line together. Or not quite. Ingebrigtsen was given a time 0.01 slower than the other three, who tied in 13:40.85.

Fifa was given the nod for gold in the photo finish, his compatriot Mechaal taking silver, while Mechaal was given bronze.

“I am currently the king of the 5000m in Europe!” declared an ecstatic Fifa. Only just.

Gesa Felicitas Krause blitzed to steeplechase gold with a stylish gun-to-tape win. Any athlete who dared take her on was shrugged off with her superior speed and hurdling technique.

The world bronze medallist finished in 9:18.85, little more than a second outside the championship record. It completes her set of European junior, under-23 and senior titles.

Luiza Gega finished in an Albanian record of 9:28.52 for silver. Bronze went to Ozlem Kaya of Turkey in 9:44.41.

There was another national record for Portugal’s Patricia Mamona in the triple jump. Her last-round 14.58m (0.8m/s) sealed a dramatic gold medal ahead of Israel’s Hanna Minenko, who had led with 14.51m. She settled for silver, while bronze went to Greece’s Paraskevi Papachristou with 14.47m.

Dutch delight and world leads in relays

The women’s 4x100m, the evening’s first relay final, was won by hosts the Netherlands.

Individual 100m champion Dafne Schippers ran a superb second leg to set her teammates on the way after a solid start from Jamile Samuel. The lead was five metres as Tess van Schagen handed to Naomi Sedney, who held the gap to win in a national record of 42.04.

Britain earned silver in 42.45, while Germany took bronze in 42.48.

The men’s event was won by Great Britain. James Ellington ran a fantastic bend on leg three, handing a marginal lead to Chijindu Ujah who stormed to gold in 38.17. France won silver in 38.38, while Germany won bronze again in 38.47.

More relay British joy came as they won gold in the women’s 4x400m with a world-leading performance.

Individual bronze medallist Anyika Onuora set it up with a brilliant second leg after Emily Diamond’s controlled opener. Eilidh Doyle held the 10-metre lead she was handed, and Seren Bundy-Davies anchored the baton home in 3:25.05 – the fastest time in the world this year.

France came home second in 3:25.96, while Italy earned bronze in 3:27.49, thanks to a 49.72 anchor from individual 400m champion Libania Grenot.

In the closing event, Great Britain looked on course for a third gold until Matt Hudson-Smith’s legs tied up with 30 metres to go. He was in a helpless stagger as Kevin Borlee passed him to win gold for Belgium. Rafal Omelko also went by to take Poland’s eighth medal of the day, and ensure his nation topped the medal table for the first time in history.

Moreira and Abraham rule the roads

The final morning in Amsterdam began on the streets with the half marathon.

Sara Moreira of Portgual and Italian Veronica Inglese set the pace in warm, clear conditions, breaking away early. Moreira pulled away with 5km to run to take gold in 1:10:19, with the Italian earning silver in 1:10:35.

“It is a beautiful day,” Moreira said, expressing her delight to recover from her DNF in Wednesday’s 10,000m.

Jessica Augusto, also of Portugal, made a late break of her own for bronze in 1:10:55. There was more joy for Portugal, who earned team gold ahead of the Italy and Turkey.

Tadesse Abraham also kicked late to win the men’s race, leading Switzerland to team gold in the process. After dropping Turk Kaan Kigen Ozbilen, Abraham moved through the gears to finish in 1:02:03, despite having to be redirected after missing the turn for the home straight.

Ozbilen was 24 seconds back and took silver, while 2014 European marathon champion Daniele Meucci finished in 1:02:38 to earn bronze. He would get another for landing the Italian team to third in the team standings.

Thomas Byrne for the IAAF