Italy men storm to 4x400m relay record in Birmingham; 2:58:10 championship and national record

2026 European Athletics Championships 4x400m relay first round: Italy men storm to record time, Netherlands and Team GB through to both finals

Qualification for the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays took place on day five of Birmingham 2026. Discover which teams made it and how they did so.

The relays are underway at the 2026 European Athletics Championships as the continental meet in Birmingham, Great Britain, reaches the weekend.

Hosts Team GB, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Italy have all progressed to both men’s and women’s finals in the 4x400m relay after the heats on Friday (14 August).

Those finals will take place on Sunday evening.

In the opening men’s heat, Italy instantly stormed to a championship and national record time of 2:58:10.

“We’re hungry for gold as we will try our best to achieve that result,” Italy’s Lorenzo Beneati said.

“If other nations want to beat us, they will have to show us what they can do.”

Italy were over a second ahead of the second-best time in qualifying, set by the defending champions Belgium , who recorded a season’s best of 2:59.35.

Meanwhile, Matthew Hudson-Smith ’s first race after reclaiming European champion status on Wednesday (12 August) required some hard yards as he anchored Team GB to sixth-fastest overall, just behind a later-disqualified France in their heat. The Dutch won that heat, with Jonas Phijffers ’s sprint finish seeing them through as the third fastest.

“I just had to hold as much form as possible,” Hudson-Smith said. “I knew there was someone who was sneaking past me, but at the end of the day it’s the heats. We have to conserve as much energy as possible and know there’s a final coming and that’s what matters.”

In the first women’s heat, Team GB opened up a four-second gap to the rest of the field, clocking 3:22.25 to lead the overall times; Spain were second in that race in 3:26.41 for the fifth-fastest time among the finalists. The reigning champions and Paris 2024 silver medallists Netherlands qualified second overall by winning the second heat in 3:25.00.

After taking silver in the 400m hurdles on Wednesday (12 August), Britain’s Emily Newnham led her nation with a strong lead-off leg.

“Today is a new day and a new race,” she said. “We obviously want to come out here and get medals again.”

The men’s and women’s 4x400m relay will be the final events of Birmingham 2026, starting 21:33 local time on Sunday (16 August).

Athletics | European Championships | Birmingham | United Kingdom