Italy Reaches 4x100m Relay Finals at European Athletics Championships
Listen to the story
Italy has achieved a strong result at the European Athletics Championships. Both the men's and women's 4x100m relay teams have qualified for the final rounds.
This means Italian runners will compete for medals in one of the most exciting events of the championships, where teams of four athletes each run 100 metres and pass a baton.
In the long jump competition, Larissa Iapichino recorded a jump of 6.94 metres. However, the jump was wind-assisted, which means it will not count as an official mark or record, because the wind speed was above the allowed limit.
Meanwhile, Ajla Del Ponte, an athlete competing for another national team, will not take part in the 4x100m relay final. No further details were given about the reason.
The European Athletics Championships bring together top athletes from across the continent to compete in track and field events, including sprints, relays, jumps, and throws.
Italy's success in reaching both relay finals shows the strength of its sprinting programme this season. Fans will now wait to see how the Italian teams perform when the finals take place.
Vocabulary10 words
- European Athletics Championships
- a major sports event for track and field athletes from Europe
- 4x100m relay
- a race with four runners who each run 100 metres and pass a baton
- qualified
- reached the next stage of a competition by performing well enough
- baton
- a small stick passed between runners in a relay race
- wind-assisted
- describes a jump or run helped by strong wind, so it is not official
- athletes
- people who compete in sports such as running or jumping
- track and field
- sports that include running, jumping, and throwing
- national team
- a group of athletes who represent their country
- mark
- a measured result, like a distance or time, in sport
- sprinting
- very fast, short-distance running
Quiz
Answer key
1. Both relay teams qualified for the final 2. The wind speed was above the allowed limit 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Italy has achieved a strong result at the European Athletics _____. Both the men's and women's 4x100m relay teams have _____ for the final rounds.
This means Italian runners will compete for medals in one of the most exciting _____ of the championships, where teams of four athletes each run 100 metres and pass a _____.
In the long jump competition, Larissa Iapichino recorded a jump of 6.94 metres. However, the jump was _____, which means it will not count as an official mark.
Meanwhile, Ajla Del Ponte, an _____ competing for another national team, will not take part in the 4x100m relay final.
The European Athletics Championships bring together top athletes from across the continent to compete in _____ events, including sprints, relays, jumps, and throws.
Italy's success in reaching both relay finals shows the strength of its _____ programme this season.