Fay, Maatoug and Weir kick off competition in Birmingham at European Championships...

With all of the changes Monday with Jake Stewart's departure from Gonzaga for Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo, we neglected to mention that the European Athletics Championships began Monday in Birmingham, Great Britain and continues until Sunday.

Washington alum Brian Fay (Paul Merca file photo) was the first of five Huskies competing in the meet to take to the track Monday, as he ran in the finals of the men's 5000 meters.

Fay, who admitted that the 2026 season has not gone to plan, finished 14th in the race, running 13:31.15, as Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, competing in his first race of the 2026 season after Achilles tendon surgery, won in 13:15.29.

"I gave it my all. I gave it everything I could. It was tough going, but I think I can hold my head up high."

Tuesday night, alums Amina Maatoug of the Netherlands and India Weir of Great Britain ran in the finals of the women's 5000 meters.

Maatoug finished seventh in 15:44.03 off a slow early pace, while Weir was 16th in 15:55.42.

Italy's Nadia Battocletti won yet another European title, running 15:37.84.

No Huskies will be in action until Friday when current NCAA champion Sofia Cosculluela of Spain begins her two day quest in the heptathlon starting at 2:35 am Pacific time.

Washington alum Sophie O'Sullivan, who became the third Irish woman to break two minutes in the 800 on Sunday, when she ran 1:59.65 Sunday in Twickenham, is entered in the women's 1500.

The first round of the women's 1500 gets underway at 4:15 am Pacific time.

The link to live results is available here on the European Championships microsite. Viewers can also access the free link to the live stream via their home page. 

NOTE: European Athletics contributed to this report.

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