The top favorites Femke Bol and Matthew Hudson-Smith won gold in the 400 m at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
With a European annual best of 49.44 seconds, Bol was the first Dutch woman to win European Championship gold over this distance. The 22-year-old, as Vice World Champion and European record holder, is also aiming for the title over 400 m hurdles. Behind Bol, silver went to Natalia Kaczmarek (49.94), third was Anna Kielbasinska (50.29/both Poles).
World Championship third Hudson-Smith (Great Britain) won easily with 44.53 seconds ahead of Swiss Ricky Petrucciani (45.03) and his compatriot Alex Haydock-Wilson (45.17). Hudson-Smith secured the fourth consecutive European Championship title for the Brits in the stadium round.
Corinna Schwab, Alica Schmidt and Patrick Schneider were eliminated in the semifinals. For Manuel Sanders and Marvin Schlegel it was the end of the line in the lead-up.