In the 200 m semifinals, the 28-year-old from Vilnius finished on Thursday in 20.75 seconds.
He was 8th in his heat, and only the two fastest from each heat plus the next two best times will advance to the final.
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He missed the final by 0.4 seconds.
G. Truskauskas took 19th place in Europe.
- The fastest in the semifinals were German Owen Ansah (20.04 sec. – the best seasonal result in Europe), Briton Zharnel Hughes (20.05 sec.), and Italian Fostine Desalu (20.08 sec.).
We remind you that the Lithuanian’s time in the qualifiers was 20.72 seconds.
“Considering the wind, the semifinal was much slower… The goal, of course, was to run the same or better – it didn’t work out either way. That’s frustrating,” shared G. Truskauskas after the finish.
– After 100 m I already felt I was leaning back a bit, technically I couldn’t manage it. And I wasn’t as energetic myself… Heat and warmth are good in sprinting. Of course, in moderation – not too much. Conditions were the same for everyone.”
The second place in G. Truskauskas’s heat and a spot in the final with a personal best went to 24-year-old Latvian Oskars Grava.
He was sixth in the semifinal – 20.27 sec. – and broke the Latvian record in this event that had stood for 30 years.
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“A very good acquaintance. I congratulated him and I’m glad he is able to reach such a level. I see how he is growing,” said the Lithuanian record holder.
The best Lithuanian result in this event, held by G. Truskauskas, is 20.48 seconds, achieved five years ago.
This year he probably ran fastest at the end of June in Jerusalem – 20.59 seconds.
- For G. Truskauskas, this is the fourth European Championship. In his debut in 2018, he finished 20th (21.11 sec.), in 2022 – 21st (21.05 sec.), and in 2024 – 15th (20.86 sec.).
The men’s 200 m sprint final will take place on Friday from 23:25.
G. Truskauskas also added that he will not run individual events this year, but in 10 days he will participate in the Diamond League stage in Poland, where he will run the mixed 4×100 m relay with the Lithuanian team.
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You can find the Lithuanians’ schedule and expectations at the European Championship here.
