Middle-distance runners Niels Laros and Agate Caune shine at European Under-20 Champs as sprinter Marek Zakrzewski also wins two golds

With exciting, dominating displays of endurance running, Niels Laros of the Netherlands and Agate Caune of Latvia sealed double victories on the final day of the European Under-20 Championships in Jerusalem on Thursday (Aug 10).

Laros again demonstrated his blistering speed to out-kick Jonathan Grahn of Sweden in the mens 5000m, while Caune demolished her rivals in the womens 5000m to smash the long-standing championship record.

Intriguingly both athletes are entered for the World Championships, which start in Budapest next weekend, with Laros down to run the 1500m and Caune the 5000m.

Laros has drawn comparisons with Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen as he has already run 3:32.89 for 1500m this year aged 18. In Jerusalem he won the 1500m in a slow 3:56.78 but with an impressive 51.35 last 400m. Later, in the 5000m, he coolly sat off the early pace before making his move in the final stages to clock 14:11.82 as he comfortably beat a runner, Grahn, who had out-kicked Irelands Nick Griggs to win the 3000m earlier in the week.

Behind Laros, Grahn and Kevin Kamenschak of Austria, James Dargan of Britain was fourth in 14:15.02.

It was a tough race of course, said Laros, who was able to show-boat a little in the final 50m. Grahn was really good, I had to push the last metres to get rid of him. It gives you a boost of energy, you show yourself to the people and when I get to the homestretch and I know that Im winning, its nice to enjoy a few stands of people.

Caune, who turned 19 on the first day of the championships, won the 3000m by 28 seconds in 8:53.20 on Wednesday (Aug 9) and followed that on Thursday with 15:03.85.

Lapping the majority of the field and winning by 47 seconds, the Latvian teenager broke Elvan Abeylegesses 22-year-old championship record by 17 seconds. Whats more, she sliced nine seconds off her personal best as she improved her national under-20 record.

Germanys Kira Weis beat Sofia Thogersen to take silver with 15:50.36 as Britains Natasha Phillips a relative novice on the track was a fine fourth.

I didnt think I would run so fast, said Caune. But I felt great during the race and Im extremely happy about the record result. I had the splits and my coach told me to push if I feel great, so I did, and Im so happy.

Before the race I thought maybe I could break the record, and then during the race I felt great and I thought Okay, you can push, you just need to push, you need to challenge yourself.

Laros and Caune werent the only athletes to win double gold. In the sprints, Marek Zakrzewski of Poland became the first man to secure the 100m and 200m titles at these championships since Britains Darren Campbell in 1991.

After winning the 100m on Tuesday, Zakrzewski took the 200m in 20.63 (1.0).

Elsewhere in the championships, Mattia Furlani of Italy broke a 36-year-old championship record in the mens long jump with 8.23m (-0.2) but he won by just one centimetre after Bozhidar Saraboyukov of Bulgaria jumped 8.22m (1.6).

In the mens high jump, Swedens Melwin Lycke Holm has clearly inherited the talent of his father, Stefan, the 2004 Olympic champion, as he cleared 2.18m to beat Edoardo Stronati of Italy on countback.

Following Griggs defeat in the mens 3000m, Ireland won an unexpected gold in the womens long jump as Elizabeth Ndudi soared out to an Irish under-20 record of 6.56m.

I was confident in myself coming in here but its a huge improvement and to do it in such a high competition makes the national record so special, said the 18-year-old from Dublin.

Germany topped the medals table with eight golds and 23 medals in total. Sweden were runners up overall with five golds and seven medals, with the Czech Republic earning three golds and eight medals and Great Britain & Northern Ireland fourth with two golds and ten medals in total.

German victories came from Sandrina Sprengel in the heptathlon (5928), Amadeus Graber in the decathlon (8209), Rosina Schneider in the 100m hurdles (13.06), Lasse Schulz in the mens shot (20.21m), Nina Chioma Ndubuisi in the womens shot (17.97m), Frederick Weigel in the mens 10,000m race walk (41:53.58), Curly Brown in the womens discus (53.93m) and the womens 4x100m (43.82).

British victories came in the womens 100m where Joy Eze narrowly beat team-mate Renee Regis. Then, on the final night, Charlie Carvell, Jake Minshull, David Race and Sam Lunt combined to win the mens 4x400m.

Carvell also took individual 400m silver behind Jónas Gunnleivsson Isaksen of Denmark, as Britains Abigail Ives also claimed an 800m silver behind runaway winner Audrey Werro of Switzerland.

Eze and Regis teamed up with Sophie Walton and individual 200m bronze medallist Suceess Eduan, too, in the womens 4x100m to take silver behind Germany in 43.86.

READ MORE: GB one-two in the 100m

There were further bronze medals for the Brits as well from Sean Anyaogu in the mens 100m, Bradley Giblin in the mens 3000m and Michael Allison in the mens javelin.