World-leading time as Emily Diamond and Eilidh Doyle help GB win European relay gold

11 July 2016

Emily Diamond and Eilidh Doyle continued their Rio 2016 Olympic Games preparations in style on Sunday as they helped Great Britain win women’s 4x400m relay gold at the European Championships in Amsterdam.

The University of Bath-based athletes teamed up with Anyika Onuora and Seren Bundy-Davies to take the continental title in a world-leading time of 3:25.05.

The victory never looked in doubt after Diamond established a good lead on the opening leg which was never relinquished. She ran 51.80, while Doyle’s split time for the third leg was 50.99.

“I prefer first leg but third was good,” said Doyle, who is coached by Malcolm Arnold at the Sports Training Village.

“It’s very hard to run when you’re in that much of a lead because you don’t know what’s going on behind you. I just tried to run a good solid leg. When I pass the baton to Seren I just know she is going to do the job and we came away with the gold.”

Sunday’s relay success means three medals were won by University of Bath-based athletes at the Europeans, following on from Jazmin Sawyers’ long-jump silver on Friday.

Sports Performance graduate Danny Talbot also won men’s 200m bronze in dramatic style, being promoted from fourth after winner Churandy Martina was later disqualified. Talbot had run the fastest time in the semi-finals of 20.37.

Andrew Pozzi, also coached by Arnold, equalled his personal best of 13.31 to win his 110m hurdles semi-final but felt his calf cramping as he lined up for the final, so pulled out as a precautionary measure with Rio just a month away.

David King, who is part of James Hillier’s training group at the STV, also equalled his personal best of 13.54 in the 110m hurdles semi-finals on his senior European debut.

And University of Bath Business Masters graduate Lawrence Clarke also saw his campaign end at the semi-final stage, despite his time of 13.47 being the same as Spain’s Yidiel Contreras in the second and final qualifying spot.

Doyle will continue her Rio preparations at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday.

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