NICOLE YEARGIN continued a “summer of bronzes” as she collected a third major championship relay athletics medal in the space of a month.

The Pitreavie AAC star, fresh from having reached the podium at the World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, ran a superb anchor leg to bring Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s women home to a 4x400 metres relay third place at the European Athletics Championships.

Maryland native Nicole went into the meet in Munich, Germany, on the back of a tough schedule that saw her compete at the World Championships in Oregon, USA, last month before travelling to Birmingham to represent Team Scotland.

At both, she ran in the individual 400m, and the women’s 4x400m, collecting bronze medals at each in the latter event, which she added to in style at European level.

After running the fastest split in the GB team, of 50.75 seconds, in the heat, Nicole was tasked with bringing the quartet of Victoria Ohuruogu, who led them off, Pipi and Jodie Williams, home in the final, where big-hitters from the Netherlands and Poland secured the top two places.

Nicole took the baton from Jodie Williams, behind Belgium, and ran a superb 49.70 second split to take bronze – only losing out on silver by six one-hundredths of a second.

“It’s been a summer of bronzes, and you can only go up from there,” Nicole, 24, told scottishathletics.

“It felt like a 49.70 but I’m very happy to finally dip into the 49s, and know that I can do it.

“It always feels good when you feel like you’re down, and you don’t have any more left, and you end up surprising yourself.”

The winning Dutch contingent included Femke Bol, who won both the 400m, and who Nicole went up against in the semi-finals, where she placed fifth.

Contracting COVID between the world champs and Commonwealth Games did not help her cause in the individual events but she was “honoured” to run her “favourite” anchor leg in the final.

“It is the most nerve-wracking leg but I do like last or second,” she continued.

“They’re quick legs, and I do enjoy relays the most. I get pumped up for them.

“I’m just happy to be back in shape. I got a great little lead from team-mates so I was happy to finish it off and do my best on the last hundred.

“The emotions were definitely different (at the start of the week) – it means a lot to step away with a medal, my third one ever, and of the summer, so I’m happy.”

On Facebook, Pitreavie AAC added: “Fantastic from Nicole as she wins her third medal in three consecutive championships.

“A phenomenal split on the anchor leg.

“Well done to Nicole and her team-mates.”