Great Britain’s Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu claimed a sensational European 100m one-two for the hosts as Italy’s two-time defending champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs pulled up with an injury in Birmingham.
Glave made an international podium for the first time by winning 100m bronze at these championships in Rome two years ago, but the 26-year-old upgraded to gold with a dominant victory in 10.09 seconds.
Azu, the world and European champion over 60m indoors in 2025, improved on his 2022 bronze as he followed his team-mate over the line in 10.16 to the delight of the home crowd at Alexander Stadium.
German Owen Ansah completed the podium after gold-medal favourite Jacobs, a surprise Olympic champion five years ago, dropped out of contention at halfway.
Just 24 hours after Amy Hunt celebrated her crowning moment in the women’s 100m, Glave and Azu ensured Britain’s continental sprint dominance continued on home soil.
Glave has made significant progress this season, breaking the 10-second barrier for the first time in legal conditions to win his first British title in June.
He has run sub-10 on six separate occasions, in all conditions, this season – including to defeat the in-form Jacobs in Italy.
That confidence was evident as Glave dominated his semi-final earlier in the evening, and he executed to perfection when it mattered most.
A talented junior, Glave was the fastest 17-year-old in the world in 2017 after he recorded a time of 10.21.
His progress has been disrupted by injury setbacks since, including a fracture in his back.
But, able to remain consistent with his training this year, Glave was able to capture the gold medal he believes he was capable of winning two years ago.
The foundations of Glave’s recent progress has come from focus on sharpening the first 40 metres of his race.
After hitting the front by the 30-metre mark, he never looked back – and continued running far beyond the finish line in celebration.
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