Barr clears first hurdle into European final

Barr clears first hurdle into European final           

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) did enough to make the final of the 400m hurdles of the European Athletics Championships this evening (August 7th) finishing second in his semi-final in 49.10 and now has it all to play for in Belin on Thursday.

Barr will now run in lane 8 in Thursday’s final (August 9th) and was pleased to shake off the rustiness and nerves of a first race at the championships. This will be Barr's first European senior final. 

“I was nervous but I always am even at the national championships in the first race,” said Barr positively afterwards. “I can run in any lane and take the positives for the final. I eased off a bit too much on the top bend but it’s all to play for in the final.”

Phil Healy (Bandon) was first of the Irish on the track in the evening session and she finished 7th in her semi-final of the 100m in 11.46. It ranked her 20th overall and exceeded her ranking. She had a pb of 11.49 going into the season and this rounded out an excellent season over the distance. Healy now moves on to the 200m. 

Stephen Scullion (Clonliffe Harriers) had a tough battle in the heavy heat in the men’s 10,000m final and he too exceeded his ranking finishing 23rd in 29:46.87.

You can watch interviews with the athletes on Athletics Ireland social media channels  and keep up to speed with everything on www.european-athletics.org.

Irish athletes in action on Wednesday are:

AM – Marcus Lawler (SLOT) 200m heats – 09:50 Irish time

PM – Marcus Lawler (SLOT) 200m semi-final – 19:15 Irish time

          Leon Reid (Menapians) 200m semi-final – 19:15 Irish time

         Emma Mitchell (Queens) 10,000m final – 19:40 Irish time