Munich crowd spurs Sawyers onto European Championship final

By Will Jennings in Munich Jazmin Sawyers says long jump's global appeal helped haul her into the multi-sport European Championship final in Munich. Ad The West Midlands star leapt 6.60m in her Tuesday morning heat to finish fourth and secure her spot in Thursday night's final. AthleticsLong jumper Abigail Irozuru feels early Euro exit sums up seasonAN HOUR AGO Home favourite and Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, Ukrainian Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk and super Serb Milica Gardasevic grabbed the top three spots in a star-studded qualifying round in Germany.

Sawyers, 28, admits she was struggling for motivation after the Commonwealth Games but the magical Munich crowd roaring on their hero helped her battle through. The Staffordshire athlete, who narrowly missed out on a medal in Birmingham after a ninth-place finish at the World Championships, said: «I have been ultimately disappointed with the results of the two Championships so far this summer. »That feeling of trying to drag myself back up to the level where I am excited to compete has been really tough.

«This crowd helped today. »We were standing there for the warm-up and it seemed like the entire stadium migrated to the long jump pit to watch Mihambo. «I like being a part of these long jump events because we have superstars dotted all around the world.

»We get the same in Serbia, it happens in Germany, it's just so great. This is really cool that I get to do this. «Yes I am tired, but ultimately this is something I get to do and I am very grateful for it.» Mihambo, 28, grabbed a brilliant gold in Tokyo last summer before cementing her hegemony with more glory at last month's World Championships in Oregon.