Iceland triumph in dramatic finale

Iceland, Luxembourg and Bosnia & Herzegovina celebrated promotion after the 3rd Division of the European Athletics Team Championships concluded in Maribor, Slovenia on Wednesday (25).

There was real drama as the final mixed 4x400m event decided the final promotion place, but Moldova's disqualification for a lane infringement after their initial victory handed the final promotion place to Bosnia & Herzegovina.

World 800m silver and bronze medallist Amel Tuka produced a throwback victory on the international stage in his specialist event to help his nation progress in third place.

Attention now turns to the 1st Division in Madrid, Spain and the 2nd Division in Maribor, both of which are being streamed live on Eurovision Sport via the European Athletics website.

The opening salvos from Madrid, feature the men's and women's pole vault taking place in front of the Royal Palace on Thursday (26) featuring Olympic bronze medallist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece and European champion Angelica Moser of Switzerland, starting from 16:00 CEST.

Olympic, world and European gold medallists are set for the European Athletics Team Championships 1st Division in Madrid. Italy will be attempting to retain the title they won for the first time at Silesia 2023, but will face a stern test from the likes of four-time winners Germany, twice champions Poland, hosts Spain, the emerging Netherlands and the rest of Europe's elite including Czechia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden and Ukraine.

(Raul Stiens with European Athletics - Picture: ©Chiara Montesano for European Athletics)