Healy fine fifth in Europe

Healy fifth best jumper in Europe

Leevale’s Sam Healy produced a fine last ditch 7.44m leap to finish fifth in the long jump final at the European Junior Athletics Championships in Eskilstuna, Sweden. 

 “The nerves really got the better of me today in my first major,” said Healy afterwards. However, he still produced it when it mattered and his last jump of 7.44m gave him a fine fifth in a quality long jump competition that was won by Russia’s Anatoliy Ryapolov. 

“I really go on adrenaline so I just kept getting more and more psyched up,” said the Leevale jumper on his improvement in the latter rounds – he jumped 7.40m in his penultimate jump. “It’s a really big experience for me now.”

Newport’s Sharlene Mawdsley impressed in the women’s 200m heats and qualified for the semi-finals with 24.13 for second in her heat. Zak Irwin (Sligo) finished 6th in his heat in 21.79. 

Crusaders Matthew Behan finished 6th in his 110m hurdle semi-final in 14.21 for a 12th place finish overall. Garbhan McKenna (Shercock) finished 5th in his heat in 14.41. Scott Gibson (Bandon) finished 8th in his 400m semi-final in 48.84. 

Earlier in the day Trim AC’s Harry Purcell recorded an impressive victory in heat 2 of the men's 800m in 1:54.55. Raheny Shamrock’s Cillian Kirwan also advanced to the semi-finals as a fastest loser with 1:53.76. 

Alice Akers (Marian) finished 25th overall in the hammer qualifying rounds with a best of 54.44m.