German sprint relay team secures silver at European Championship premiere in Birmingham

The mixed German sprint relay team secured the silver medal at the European Championship premiere in Birmingham. Kevin Kranz, Rebekka Haase, Heiko Gussmann and Gina Brückenkemper crossed the finish line in the 4x100 meters after 40.11 seconds. The mixed team from host Great Britain won with a European record of 39.97 seconds. The now four-time European champion Amy Hunt took the lead on the home straight against Brückenkemper. Bronze went to Spain in 40.42 seconds. The 4x100 meters in mixed doubles were part of the European Athletics Championships for the first time.

Already silver for the men's relay For Kranz and Gussmann it is the second medal in Birmingham after silver with the men's 4x100 meter relay on Saturday. In the individual, Owen Ansah, who was threatened with a ban, won the title in the 200 meters and bronze in the 100 meters. Because of an impending ban, the German Athletics Association did not put Ansah up for the relays as a precaution so as not to risk subsequent disqualification. Haase and Brückenkemper made up for the elimination of the German women's relay in the preliminary round. The last change from Sophia Junk to Brückenkemper didn't work out there. After silver in the mixed doubles, Brückenkemper, whose preparation was seriously disrupted by a tick bite, was satisfied with her performance as the final runner - despite the defeat against Hunt: "I wanted to grab it. Unfortunately I didn't succeed. But I don’t think I need to hide at the back of the four with my performance.”