European Athletics Championships 2026: Petros, Vainio set new c’ship records to win marathon crowns
Israel won the men’s team gold thanks to having four runners in the top 12, ahead of Germany and France.
Updated : Aug 16, 2026 18:46 IST , BIRMINGHAM - 3 MINS READ
Germany’s Amanal Petros (left) and Finland’s Alisa Vainio (right) both claimed their maiden individual European Championship titles in marathon in Birmingham on Sunday. | Photo Credit: AP
Germany’s Amanal Petros (left) and Finland’s Alisa Vainio (right) both claimed their maiden individual European Championship titles in marathon in Birmingham on Sunday. | Photo Credit: AP
Eritrean-born German Amanal Petros and Finland’s Alisa Vainio won the men's and women’s marathons at the European championships in Birmingham on Sunday.
Petros, the Olympic silver medallist, claimed victory in a championship record of 2hr 09min 11sec, beating by 40sec Belgian Koen Naert’s previous best, set in Berlin in 2018.
Italy’s Pietro Riva, who took European silver in the half-marathon in Rome two years ago, claimed silver in 2:09.18, just 3sec ahead of Ethiopian-born Israeli Gashau Ayale.
Vainio, who finished fifth at last year’s world champs in Tokyo, clocked a dominant winning time of 2:22.26, her long solo effort beating by almost three minutes the previous championship record set by France’s Christelle Daunay in Zurich in 2014.
Hungary took silver through Lili Anna Vindics-Toth, in a personal best of 2:27:21, while Britain’s Abbie Donnelly picked up bronze (2:27:33).
Israel won the men’s team gold thanks to having four runners in the top 12, ahead of Germany and France.
Britain topped the podium in the women’s team event ahead of Italy and Spain.
Transport services back to normal
A man in his 30s was arrested and remains in custody on suspicion of fraud, West Midlands Police said on Sunday, after a security operation caused disruption the previous evening.
British media reported that several athletes, including Britain’s Amy Hunt, and thousands of spectators were delayed from leaving the venue for more than an hour after an incident involving armed police on Saturday night.
The police said concerns were raised after a man was found with the wrong accreditation.
“As a precaution, security measures were put in place and transport for the Championship staff and athletes were suspended. This then led to delays to transport from the stadium for the wider public,” the police added.
“We understand the concern this may have caused and can confirm there was no immediate risk to the public. As always, our priority is the safety of the public and we want to thank everyone for the patience.”
Transport services returned to normal early on Sunday, organisers said in a statement.
“The safety and wellbeing of our spectators, athletes, workforce and the wider Championships’ family will always be our first priority,” the statement added.
Alexander Stadium was close to its 23,000 capacity for Saturday’s evening session, which concluded with Britain winning gold in both the men’s and women’s 4x100 metres relays.
Organisers later announced the cancellation of six medal ceremonies scheduled to take place after the final event.
In a post on X, the championships apologised for significant delays affecting spectators leaving the venue and said buses and coaches would “gradually” resume departures.
Hunt and her teammates are due to compete in Sunday’s mixed sprint relay, where she will attempt to win a record fourth gold medal at the championships.
Published on Aug 16, 2026
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