Miltos Tentoglou set a Balkan Athletics Championships record in Volos on Saturday as Greece won multiple gold medals in a strong evening at the Balkan Athletics Championships.
Tentoglou claimed gold in the men’s long jump with a first-round leap of 8.36 meters, while Katerina Stefanidi won the women’s pole vault with a season-best clearance of 4.48 meters. Greece also added silver medals through Ariadni Adamopoulou in the pole vault and Elina Tzengko in the women’s javelin.
The results gave the home crowd at Panthessaliko Stadium one of the highlights of the championships, with two of Greece’s most decorated track and field athletes leading the medal charge.
Tentoglou needed only one legal jump to take control of the men’s long jump competition. The two-time Olympic champion opened with 8.36 meters, a mark that no other athlete came close to matching.
Tentoglou’s 8.36-meter jump came with a -0.3 m/s headwind and set a new Balkan Championships record, securing him the gold medal and his fourth Balkan title.
Serbia’s Luka Boskovic finished second with a personal best of 8.19 meters, while Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov took bronze with 8.04 meters. Greece’s Nikos Stamatonikolos placed sixth with 7.62 meters.
Katerina Stefanidi added another gold medal for Greece in the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.48 meters to win the event.
The result marked a season best for the Greek Olympic champion and gave her the first Balkan outdoor title of her career. Stefanidi won the competition on countback after clearing 4.48 meters on her first attempt.
Ariadni Adamopoulou also cleared 4.48 meters but did so on her third attempt, finishing second behind Stefanidi. Both Greek athletes later attempted 4.53 meters but could not clear the height.
Greece also reached the podium in the women’s javelin, where Elina Tzengko finished second with a best throw of 57.88 meters.
Tzengko produced her top mark in the second round but could not improve later in the competition. Turkey’s Esra Turkmen won gold with a personal best of 61.10 meters.
