Sarah Healy (UCD AC) and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) advanced to the final of the women’s and men’s 3,000m respectively this morning (March 8th) at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
Healy raced in the first of the women’s heats and was comfortable throughout, cruising to victory in 8:55.35 to book her place in tomorrow’s final.
“I’m definitely relieved to qualify safely. I feel like that as far as heats go it wasn’t too messy or stressful. I’ve never done a 3,000m heat before but I think it’s a little bit less stressful than a 1500m heat, you have a bit more time to sort yourself out…It felt good,” she told Athletics Ireland.
Coscoran also got the job done in the men’s event, making smart tactical moves throughout, ensuring his progressing to the final by finishing fifth in his heat in a time of 7:56.37.
Speaking afterwards the Balbriggan man said:
“I’m really looking forward to the final tomorrow, I’m very confident coming into it.”
There was disappointment for Jodie McCann (Women’s 3000m) and James Gormley (Men’s 3000m) who both failed to advance to the finals.
McCann finished tenth in her heat in 9:18.73, while Gormely was eighth in his heat running 7:53.27.
In the Men’s 60m Bori Akinola (UCD AC) made an impressive senior international individual debut clocking 6.66 seconds, finishing second in his heat, to qualify for this evening’s semi-final.
The 23-year-old was pleased to advance:
“I’m happy to come back with second there. I was confident coming in that I’d get through the heats, into the semi but the major work now is going to be in the semi to make the final. That’s where I need to step it up a little bit more.”
In the Women’s 60m Para Athletics race Orla Comerford (Raheny Shamrock AC) claimed victory in 7.63 seconds, a strong season opener.
Comerford relished the opportunity to race on such a big stage:
“When the invite came in from European Athletics four weeks ago I was over the moon. To get a personal invite from them was huge and for them to be putting Para Athletics in this spotlight and giving us this opportunity is massive,” she told Athletics Ireland.
This evening Bori Akinola returns for his 60m semi-final, while Cian McPhillips and Mark English race in the semi-finals of the Men’s 800m.
Team Ireland Schedule: Irish Time (Local time in brackets)
Evening Session – Saturday March 8th
- Bori Akinola – Men’s 60m – Semi-Final 2/3 – 18:18 (19:18)
- Cian McPhillips – Men’s 800m – Semi-Final 1/2 – 19:13 (20:13)
- Mark English – Men’s 800m – Semi-Final 2/2 – 19:21 (20:21)
- Bori Akinola – Men’s 60m – Final – 20:40 (21:40) *
*Subject to advancing
- Results are HERE
