Boglárka Takács tops women's 200m qualifying times for semi-final in Birmingham, UK; only sub-23 in heats today

Boglárka Takács tops women’s 200m qualifying times for semi-final in Birmingham, UK; only sub-23 in heats today

2026 European Athletics Championships: Hungary’s Boglárka Takács tops women’s 200m qualifying times for semi-final spot

Day three of Birmingham 2026 will see the semi-finals of the women’s 200m contested on Wednesday evening (12 August).

Seven-time Hungarian champion Boglárka Takács and European U23 champion Dalia Kaddari both clocked season’s best times to lead round one of the women’s 200m qualifiers at the 2026 European Athletics Championships on Wednesday (12 August).

Takács was the only runner to dip under the 23-second mark in the heats on the third morning of competition in Birmingham, Great Britain, topping the timesheets at 22.84. The Hungarian previously competed in her favoured event, the women’s 100m , on Monday (10 August), being eliminated in the semi-finals.

“After the 100m semi-final, I was more than disappointed. This is my chance for revenge,” she said after the 200m first round.

“I tried to prepare myself for today and clear my mind. I was quite happy with this race - my first sub-23 this season. It looks quite promising.”

Ireland’s Lauren Roy and Greek national champion Polyniki Emmanouilidou also progressed.

The likes of newly crowned 100m European champion Amy Hunt , reigning 200m European champion Mujinga Kambundji , 2024 silver medallist Daryll Neita , and Dina Asher-Smith will join at the semi-final stage after receiving byes.

The semi-final will take place on Wednesday evening (12 August) at 20:20 local time in Birmingham, with the final coming on Thursday (13 August) at 21:50.

Getty Images for European Athletics

Athletics | European Championships | Birmingham | United Kingdom