Marcell Jacobs Chases Historic Third European 100m Title in Birmingham

Competition opens with the women’s rounds on Monday, 10 August, at Alexander Stadium, setting up a high-stakes week of sprinting on home soil for British contenders.

Marcell Jacobs Chases Historic Third Crown as British Contenders Rise in Birmingham

The men’s 100m takes centre stage on the second day of the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, drawing international attention as established champions and surging challengers lock horns. Among the athletes competing for gold is Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs. The Italian star has enjoyed a notable resurgence this season, clocking a wind-assisted 9.67 seconds in Eisenstadt alongside two sub-10-second performances in Diamond League action across Rome and Paris.

Jacobs is chasing a third European 100m title after claiming top spot on the podium at Birmingham 2022 and Rome 2024.

Standing in his way is a fierce British contingent determined to spoil the bid for history on home soil. Romell Glave finished just 0.09 seconds behind Jacobs in Eisenstadt and has broken the 10-second barrier five times this season, though four of those runs came with an illegal tailwind. Glave also secured the UK Athletics Championships title on the same Alexander Stadium track hosting Tuesday’s final. Meanwhile, Munich 2022 bronze medallist Jeremiah Azu returns to the blocks just over a week after placing fifth in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, while Owen Ansah arrives with a German record of 9.98 set earlier this year.

Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt Headline Women’s Sprints on Opening Day

On the women’s side, action kicks off immediately with round one, the semi-finals, and the final all taking place on Monday, 10 August. Home favourite Dina Asher-Smith, the reigning champion from Roma 2024, leads the charge with eight career European gold medals to her name.

Amy Hunt joins her as a primary medal threat. The British 100m champion and reigning world 200m silver medallist recently secured 100m silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The British duo faces stiff international competition, led by Europe’s fastest woman this year, Géraldine Di Tizio-Frey, who posted the continent’s leading time of 10.96 seconds at the Swiss Championships.

Deep International Fields Set the Stage for Alexander Stadium Showdowns

The broader entry lists underscore the depth across both events in Birmingham. Poland’s experienced Olympian Ewa Swoboda—who won 100m silver two years ago and holds titles as a former European indoor 60m champion—enters the mix alongside emerging Czech star and European U23 champion Karolína Maňasová. Britain’s three-time Olympic relay medallist Daryll Neita rounds out a loaded field of contenders.

With athletes transitioning directly from Glasgow’s Commonwealth engagements to the Alexander Stadium track, recovery and tactical execution will dictate who converts early-season speed into championship medals as the week unfolds.