GOLDEN GIRL Amy Hunt claims she had a premonition that she would storm to European 100 metres glory – her first senior individual athletics title.
Medal-hunting Hunt – who sported red lip gloss, a set of earrings and slicked back her black hair – produced a stunning display of speed as she won the women’s final in Birmingham in a time of 11 seconds.
Amy Hunt wins the gold in the women’s 100 meters final at the European Athletics Championships Credit: AP
Amy Hunt celebrates with the Union Jack Credit: AP
Britain’s Amy Hunt kisses her gold medal after winning the women’s 100 meters final Credit: AP
The new golden girl of British athletics Amy Hunt Credit: Getty
Silver was claimed by Pole Ewa Swoboda (in 11.02 seconds) while Belgian Delphine Nkansa took the bronze (11.06 seconds).
Defending champion Dina Asher-Smith only just squeezed into the eight-woman final, having been third in semi-final one, and came fifth overall.
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The home-grown success capped off night one of the European Athletics Championships at the Alexander Stadium, which took place in front of a disappointing crowd.
Though Hunt, 24, has a World Championship silver from the 200 metres, which was obtained last September in Tokyo, this was the first time she had crossed the finish line first in a major competition.
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It underlines her status as the one to watch in track-and-field for Team GB just two years out from the LA Olympics.
And it came thirteen days after she claimed silver over the same distance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, albeit where she had to contend with torrential rain.
The Cambridge-educated star – who trains in Italy – said she had dreamt of this moment in the build-up.
Hunt – who calls herself “an academic badass and a track goddess” after winning silver at the World Champs last year – said: “Honestly, it’s just euphoria.
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Amy Hunt crosses the line in Birmingham Credit: Getty
Amy Hunt poses with, left, bronze medalist Belgium’s Delphine Nkansa and silver medalist Ewa Swoboda from Poland Credit: AP
The trio jump for joy to celebrate their medals Credit: AP
“My first gold. It was definitely time to upgrade. This was definitely a coming of age for me here.
“I’m now kind of fully established. I’m a 100 metres medalist. I’ve got two 100 metres medals in the last two weeks, and one more sub-11 seconds to boot.
“So yeah, very, very happy. I’m someone that thrives under that pressure. The stage for a final isn’t intimidating to me, and I just knew I had to stay calm and not overthink myself into the gold before I had it in my grasp.
“I think that was where the Commonwealths really came in handy for me.
“I’m someone who doesn’t shy away from what she knows she can do. I’m so proud, and I’m so confident in myself because I get to see what I do every single day at training.
“I knew I could come away with a gold coming into today. I had such a big premonition, and I just love my job, so this is what makes it the best for me.
“I just had such a magical feeling. I’ve won English Schools here. I raced here as a 13 or 14-year-old.
“So, this is really my track. I’m a girl from Newark, I’m a Midlands girl, so I just had a feeling that this was going to be my night.”
In the morning session, British stars Ben Pattison (1:45.40) and Max Burgin (1:45.80) qualified for the next stage of the men’s 800 metres.
Halifax-born Burgin, 24, arrived in the West Midlands having overcome a serious illness that had affected his preparations for the Euros.
Burgin said: “Last week I’ve not managed to do too much running at all really.
“And the bits that I have done haven’t inspired much confidence – so I really wasn’t too sure how I’d do.
“I just came down with symptoms, saw the doctor, had an examination.
“They said it was a virus so I had to take three or four days off which I did.
“And when I got back into running after that, I still felt rough. So I just sort of dragged on for a bit longer than expected.”
