After the first day of the World Junior Championships in Beijing, Ireland have yet to qualify an athlete for the second round. Competition was always going to be fierce at the Championships, and the young team have found the going tough. Jason Smyth of City of Derry, was slow out of the blocks early this morning and his 10.85 did not progress him to the next round. Sixteen year old Kalyn Sheehan of Ferrybank A/C found the going tough in the blistering heat and ran 61.76 to finish 7th in her heat in the 400mH which was not enough to progress, and David McCarthy of West Waterford ran 1.52.41 finishing sixth with the top 4 progressing to the next round. Both David and Kalyn have another year at junior level and the experience will no doubt stand to them next year for the European Junior Championships. Jason Smyth was hoping to challenge the National Junior record for 200m which he equalled earlier in July, however after being left in his blocks, he was never going to challenge that, and fifth place left him three places outside the two automatic qualification spots and about a fifth of a second away from one of the four fastest losers’ to progress from the ten heats. Action from Beijing will resume during the night with Chris Quinn in competing in the 3rd heat of the 400mH. We wish him all the best. Amy Foster and Kelly Proper will be in action later in the week. For further information please contact Elaine Fitzgerald, Performance Manager, Athletics Ireland 087-9782478.