Heroic Healy advances to World semi-final

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Heroic Healy advances to world semi-final

Phil Healy (Bandon) had a brilliant run to advance to the semi-final of the women’s 400m with a third place finish in heat 5 in 52.75 at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Arena Birmingham today (March 2nd).

Healy created history by becoming the first Irish woman to advance to the semi-final of a 400m at a world indoor championship and was suitably pleased.

“It was going to be a testing first 200m,” said Healy starting in lane 6 who split a swift 24.03 at the break to lead. “I ticked the first box and I’m happy with how I ran out there today.”

The Bandon athlete will compete later this evening at 8:32pm. You can watch a video interview with Phil Healy on the Facebook page HERE or Twitter HERE.

The 18-year-old Ciara Neville (Emerald) kicked off the Irish campaign in the first heat of the women’s 60m where she clocked 7.47 seconds for seventh. ‘I wanted to do better but it will help to build confidence for the future,” said the Limerick teenager afterwards.  

Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) was next up and she finished fifth in heat 2 of the 60m in 7.35. “It’s not a bad run. It’s just not what I was looking for.”

Foster has been in scintillating form this year with an Irish record of 7.27 seconds to win the national senior championships.

She can now go to Berlin in August for the European Athletics Championships with ambitions of a coveted spot in the 100m final.

Ciara Mageean (UCD) will also be in action this evening in the women’s 1500 heats at 7:58pm.

Irish action

Evening session March 2

Ciara Mageean (UCD) women’s 1500m heat 7:58pm

Phil Healy (Bandon) women’s 400m semi-final 8:32pm

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