“Easiest title so far” says Schilder after dominating shot final

Jessica Schilder retained her European shot put title with a dominant performance as the Dutch team picked up three medals on the first day of the championships in Birmingham.

The 27-year-old from Volendam threw down a gauntlet in the opening round with a throw of 19.81 metres and improved three more times to reach 20.72 with her final throw.

Team-mate Jorinde van Klinken took the silver medal with a personal best of 19.64m in the opening round, while the third Dutch competitor, Alida van Daalen, also reached the final, finishing in 11th place with 17.54m.

All five of Schilder’s legal throws were further than Van Klinken’s best effort as she became the first woman since 1974 to win a hat-trick of European titles.

“I shouldn’t say it, but I think this was actually the easiest title so far,” Schilder told NOS afterwards. “I’m very grateful for this competition and I secretly enjoy it, but I’d rather train 100 times because I can’t stand the tension of competing. It’s real torture.”

The mixed relay team completed an opening-day set for the team by taking the bronze medal, leaving the Netherlands second in the medal table.

Relay bronze

The Dutch were without anchor specialist Femke Broeders-Bol, who is concentrating on her new event, the 800 metres.

Lieke Klaver opened up a clear lead on the opening leg which the Netherlands retained with Jonas Phijffers and Terrence Agard, but anchor runner Myrte van der Schoot was overtaken in the final straight by the Norwegian and British runners.

“We ran very well with a new team,” said Klaver. “I’m really proud of everyone.”

Mahadi Abdi Ali finished a creditable sixth in the men’s 5000m final, behind the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won his seventh European title at the age of just 25.

“I ran the race of my life,” said Abdi Ali, who was in contention for a medal going into the final straight, finishing just two seconds behind the winner.

Foppen’s fall

But there was disappointment for Mike Foppen, who was running strongly when he fell twice as the field bunched in the closing laps.

Foppen got up to finish 11th, just behind team-mate Tim Verbaandert. “There was a medal in it for me if I hadn’t fallen,” he said. “I’m in the form of my life.”

Broekers-Bol will start her quest for gold in the 800 metres heats on Tuesday morning, while Ruben Rolvink and Shaquille Emanuelson will try to qualify for the men’s discus final.

Later in the day Nadine Visser will be hoping for a medal in the 100 metres hurdles.