Great Britain won mixed 4x400m relay bronze as Femke Bol anchored hosts the Netherlands to the first gold of the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.
Dutch star Bol, 25, took over in fourth position but delivered the title ahead of Belgium in a time of three minutes 15.63 seconds to loud cheers inside the Omnisport Stadium.
The British quartet featuring Alastair Chalmers, Emily Newnham, Joshua Faulds and Lina Nielsen clocked 3:16.49 to make the podium in an event making its championship debut.
Britons Georgia Hunter Bell, Revee Walcott-Nolan and Neil Gourley progressed to Friday night’s 1500m finals on the opening night of action.
Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Hunter Bell, the strong favourite for the title as the fastest European this year, controlled her heat from start to finish and won in 4:11.31.
“Job done now and I’m ready for tomorrow. I like the heats, to get a run out and settle the nerves. But you need to make sure you stay out of trouble,” Hunter Bell told BBC Sport.
She will be joined in the women’s final by Walcott-Nolan, who placed second in her heat in 4:14.38.
Gourley will have his sights set on upgrading his 2023 silver after he won his heat in 3:40.24 to join world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the final.
Olympic 5,000m champion Ingebrigtsen clocked 3:37.49 as he made a winning start in his bid for a third consecutive 1500m and 3,000m double at the championships, an achievement which would see him equal the men’s record of seven European indoor titles.
Elsewhere, Ireland’s Sarah Lavin qualified for the women’s 60m hurdles semi-finals on Saturday by winning her heat in 7.93 seconds.
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