After the frenetic activity of the previous night's Athletics in Zurich, day 3 welcomed the start of the women's heptathlon competition and the return of the sprinters for the 200m heats inside the stadium, with the final of the women's 20km walk around the roads of Zurich itself.
The result of the walk was not entirely unexpected, as it was one of the favoured Russians, Elmira Alembekova who prevailed in a time of 1 hour 27 mins 56 seconds. She finished eleven seconds clear of Ukrainian Olyanovska who just edged out the Czech Drahotova in the silver / bronze battle.
The Czech was rewarded with a National Junior record.
In the absence of Britain's Johnson - Thompson, Nadine Broersen of Holland heads the Euro standings this season and she leads here after two events in the heptathlon. A National Record in the high jump of 1.94m was enough to propel her into top spot by a handy 42 points ahead of Thiam (1.97m) with Mokhnyuk (1.82m personal best) currently third. Schafer and Nana Djimou are close behind in 4th and 5th. Nana Djimou had earlier set the quickest 100m hurdles time of 13.05 secs, with Mokhnyuk close behind in 13.08 secs for a personal best. The event continues later with the shot put and 200m disciplines.
Both the men's and women's sprinters were back on the track for the 200m heats.
In the women's races, Dafne Schippers showed few effects of her previous night's 100m success as she ran a very comfortable looking 22.73 secs to win her heat. The three Britains of Bianca Williams, Jodie Williams and 18 year old Dina Asher-Smith ran controlled races to head their heats, with Jamile Samuel taking the remaining heat win.
Local Swiss favourite Kambundji and 100m silver medallist Soumare also progressed easily, but medal tipped Russian Renzhina of Russia required a fastest loser spot.
In the men's 200m heats, slight favourite Lemaitre of France won his heat in 20.43 secs after his silver in the 100m the night before. Gemili of Britain ran quicker to take his race in 20.39 secs to head the qualifiers.
Smelyk of Ukraine also won his heat and along with Britain's Talbot (winner of heat 3), look likely to figure as medal contenders. Defending champion Martina is also through, but looked some way off his sub 20 seconds best form. Another sub 20 seconds runner at his best, Saidy Ndure went out in the heats.
As expected, big favourite for the men's pole vault crown, Lavillenie of France qualified for the final. Along with other medal contender, Kudlicka, they were the only men to clear 5.60m. The remaining qualifiers all cleared 5.50m, including Britain's recent Commonwealth champion Steve Lewis. A surprise non qualifier was 5.73m jumper Scherbarth from Germany, who no heighted.
Men's hammer qualifying saw all of the fancied medal contenders through to the final, with Fajdek throwing furthest with 77.45m in a competition where all of the distances were down on what had been expected.
This was particularly true for slight favourite, Pars of Hungary who was some eight metres down on his season's best but still qualified.
Two further finals were concluded late on the previous night, with Germany's Robert Harting (66.07m) and Estonia's Gerd Kanter (64.75m) reprising their first and second positions in the men's discus as they had done in Helsinki at the last Europeans. Urbanek edged out fellow Pole Malachowski to take bronze. In the women's long jump final, Lesueur of France retained her Euro title with 6.85m to edge Serbian Spanovic into silver. Klishina of Russia took the bronze from Mihambo of Germany on countback, as both jumped a best distance of 6.65m in the competition.
