BRITISH YOUNGSTERS ON TOP IN GEORGIA

GEORGE MILLS AND JONA EFOLOKO ARE AMONG THE BRITISH WINNERS IN TBILISI

ANATOLIY CHERKASOV

BRITAIN topped the medal table with 13 podium places, including five golds, at the first edition of these championships.

Isabelle Boffey and George Mills (800m), Jona Efoloko (200m), Jake Heyward (1500m) and Holly Mills (long jump) were the Brits crowned European champions in Georgia’s capital.

Efoloko clocked 21.15 to beat Sweden’s Kasper Kadestal with 21.18 and later said: “I can’t believe it. European champion. I’m speechless. I just had to keep pushing and pushing.”

Isabelle Boffey (256): led a GB one-two in the 800m to win Great Britain’s first gold of the championships

The 16-year-old added: “I remember Andy Turner telling us [at the preparation day] to push right until the end and that’s what I did and came away with the gold medal. I’m so proud to be a part of the British team.”

The first British gold had been claimed by Boffey as she led a GB one-two in the 800m. She ran 2:07.19 ahead of Anna Burt with 2:08.54.

Boffey said: “I just went with it and it happened, I can’t believe it. We both ran so well and it was such a battle in the home straight, but I’m so glad we got the one-two.

“I’m a little bit in shock, I don’t think I’ve realised how big it is yet representing my country and being No.1 in Europe. This is the biggest achievement of my athletics career. I thought getting into the GB team was an amazing thing in itself, but to win a gold medal that makes it so much better.”

Heyward was another gold medallist as he won the 1500m in 4:00.64 after a 54.24 last lap.

Suffering from illness in the days leading up to the event, he said: “I’m ecstatic. It’s so nice to see the hard work paying off. I got injured in the winter, so it’s been a bit of a slog getting back. I’m just so happy to pull it off on the day.

“I knew that as long as I was in contention, no one was going to match me in the last 100m.”

Clocking a 1:48.92 PB, George Mills won the 800m ahead of Italian pair Andrea Romani (1:49.58) and Simone Barontini (1:49.78), as Ireland’s Kevin McGrath ran 1:50.51 for fourth with Mills’ team-mate Markhim Lonsdale fifth in 1:51.10.