Israeli Athletes Set National Record and Reach Finals at U18 European Athletics Championships

At the U18 European Athletics Championships in Italy, Israeli athlete Hila Versano set a new national record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.02 minutes, advancing to the semifinals scheduled for the following day. Additionally, Idan Noam and Aviv Tochman qualified for the final of the 2,000-meter steeplechase after strong performances in the preliminary heats, clocking 5:53.23 and 5:53.63 minutes respectively. The final race is set for Sunday.

Etti Magidi, the professional manager of the Israeli Athletics Association, commented on the athletes' performances, noting that both Noam and Tochman faced technical difficulties during their races. Tochman fell at the last water jump but still finished within the top seven, while Noam also stumbled over a hurdle but managed to secure a place in the final. Magidi expressed optimism about their potential to break the Israeli record in the event, which he currently holds, and hopes they will achieve strong placements in the final. He emphasized the importance of their recovery ahead of Sunday’s race to deliver strong performances.