2018 Berlin Diary: Perkovic, Wlodarczyk for more gold, top duel men’s pole vault, history for Norway

BERLIN (GER): The 24th edition of European Championships in Berlin will be unique. The top event for European athletes in 2018. For first time Wild cards are used for European Champions from Amsterdam, women 50 km walk will debut (48 events is the ever highest number). The Amsterdam record number of 1469 participating athletes should be broken. Also record number of tickets sold already (270 000) and more will come. Final days are sold out. All European stars confirmed their participation including nearly all London 2017 World champions. Seven men (Guliyev, Bosse, Warholm, Gudzius, Fajdek, Vetter, Mayer) and seven women (Schippers, Lasitskene, Stefanidi, Perkovic, Wlodarczyk, Thiam and Henriques). Missing only Mo Farah (no more track competition), Barbora Spotakova (birth of second son) and Yohan Diniz (injury). From title defenders not competing only Ruth Beitia in high jump (end of career), Yohan Diniz (50 km walk, injury), Zigismunds Sirmais Latvian javelin thrower (lack of shape), Greg Rutherford in long jump, Ilias Fifa in the 5000 m, Dimitri Bascou (110 m Hurdles), the event is also without both marathon winners 2014 Daniele Meucci and Christelle Daunay and Russian Elmira Alembekova (20 km walk) who is banned until 2019 for doping. In many events hot duels are expected, for example in men´s pole vault with several jumpers aiming for gold at high level. Improvement of championships record 9.99 in the 100 m is also expected, and the story of Filip, Henrik and Jakob Ingebrigtsens is a special one, all three entered for 1500 m and 5000 m. There is also hot weather forecasted that means specially for long distances a tough situation. In Zurich top country was Britain, in Amsterdam for first time Poland.

BERLIN (GER): New and innovative will be the virtual bridge from the Olympic Stadium to the city centre of Berlin with the European Mile. The 50-metre-high bell tower in the colours of the European Athletics Championships, a blue track around the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a central stage and several 10.000 visitors daily – these are just some of the ingredients for the so-called European Mile in the heart of Berlin. The emotional highlight here will be the 38 medal ceremonies, which will be brought from the stadium into the vibrant heart of Europe’s metropolis. The men’s shot put qualification on early Monday evening, the marathon and race walking competitions on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday also take place at and around the Breitscheidplatz.

100 m: How healthy is Vicaut? Hughes ready from coach Mills, Tortu the surprise. Harvey and Prescod to attack. CR 9.99 should go.

200 m: World champ Guliyev looks to be on his own way. Hortelano for sub 20?

400 m: MHS is the one to watch, can he come close to Schonlebe´s ER? Open field for other medals. Warholm to test his speed.

800 m: Kszczot vs Bosse should be the headline. Ordonez leads the lists but is that enough?

1500 m: Ingebrigtsens against rest of the continent. O´Hare and Holusa to make life not so easy for them. If fast CR could go (3:35.27).

5000 m: Again Ingebrigtsens but Mekhissi should be in shape.

10 000 m: Normally you would say Ringer is at home, Amdouni great mile speed, but what is the shape of Turkish runners?

Mar: Moen and Abraham going for gold, Spanish opposition also there.

SC: Can somebody beat Mekhissi?

110mH: Shubenkov for European record is the logical headline. Ortega and Martinot-Lagarde will not give up so easy. CR 13.02 could be broken.

400mH: 10 hurdles and Norwegian Viking, looks clear.

HJ: After the latest issue this is very open. Przybylko with home support, Nedasekau was recently in good shape, Tamberi is the man to watch.

PV: One of the best fields: Lavillenie vs Duplantis vs Lisek. And much more. Six meters waiting.

LJ: Very open. Juska leads the lists, Tentoglou is the top youngster, or somebody coming from nowhere?

TJ: Pichardo´s position was not clear at time of this preview, Evora, Copello, Hess the other names.

SP: Haratyk leads the outdoor lists, Storl will be heavily supported, Stanek has something to say.

DT: Farewell for Der Harting not easy, new generation with London medalists Gudzius and Stahl is there along with his younger brother.

HT: Polish affair, Nowicki or Fajdek? Bronze wide open.

JT: Germans aiming for podium, but Kirt and Vadlejch do not agree. First 90 of Eurochamps very possible.

Dec: Mayer to rule, Uibo with Abele for other medals, will Duckworth have enough power after US college season?

20kmw: Bosworth must pay attention to his technique for possible succesful, Mizinov has the fastest times, in hot weather Spanish walkers always the factor.

50kmw: Olympic and World winner Toth is back to attack the gold he never won. Special name: Garcia competed already in 1994.

4×100 m: Who can attack the Brits? Maybe Turkey or Netherlands or France or Italy? Meet record (37.79) possible.

4×400 m: Belgium are the defenders, but the dark horse is Spain.

100 m: Dina vs Dafne part one, Kambundji or Luckenkemper for bronze.

200 m: Dina vs Dafne part two, again Kambundji with Dobbin and Samuel aiming for the podium.

400 m: Another open event. Swiety and Ghafoor against fast times from Chaux-de-Fonds. Grenot is the former winner. Surprise from Greece or Cyprus.

800 m: Again wide open. Pryschepa to defend, British duo and Lamote. In slow race new name can win.

1500 m: Muir to rule as Hassan is not running.

5000 m: Hassan to rule as Muir is not running. Meet record is the possibility (14:54.44)

10 000 m: On paper Chemtai, but unclear the level of shape of defender Can.

Mar: In expected hot weather this is very tough to predict. Will it be Mazuronak as per lists?

SC: Krause on home soil to defend, Grovdal having the top time. Albania never won gold at Euro Champs.

100H: Talay had slight injury, Herman is on her way to improve, Dutkiewicz the home favorite.

400H: Sprunger is the choice, but Hejnova will improve her shape.

HJ: Can Vallortigara attack Lasitskene? Also meet record 203 under threat.

PV: Sidorova won Monaco, but Stefanidi is the big champion of last 2 years and also championships record holder.

LJ: High expectations from healthy Spanovic, British duo tough to beat. And some German flair.

TJ: Young generation Peleteiro and Issouf with Panturoiu or home Gierisch or list leader Papahristou.

SP: Schwanitz despite recent car accident on clear path.

DT: Perkovic one of the big names of this championships. Going for fifth gold.

HT: Wlodarczyk on her own field, going for fourth gold.

JT: Khaladovich is the defender, but Ogrodnikova was doing well on DL circuit, Hussong with home advantage.

Hep: Thiam another of the World stars here competing. Can she go over champs record 6823?

20kmw: Italian event at the end of the day? Or Czech surprise?

50kmw: Debut at Eurochamps. Henriques is the World champion, Takacs leads the lists, Afanasyeva won some young titles. First championships record to be registered.

4×100 m: Britain or Germany? Switzerland and Netherlands waiting behind.

4×400 m: This is something for Poland. France and Britain will not give up.