Gutsy run by McMahon; Byrne 10th in 5,000m
Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim) produced a gutsy run to finish fifth in her 400m hurdles semi-final in 56.87 seconds at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam (July 9).
Running from lane 7, McMahon was in contention for a final berth with one hundred metres to go but just ran out of legs in the straight.
“I’m really happy with that coming off the first round where I didn’t feel great,” said McMahon afterwards who used a new stride pattern for the second time. “It worked really well. I tried using it for the first time last week and completely ran out of legs in the home straight. It was much better this time. I just need to get more work in and get fitter.”
McMahon has been juggling her final year in dentistry and training at a high level – she now has a clear path to take a leap forward.
The mens’ 4x100m relay team of Jason Smyth (Derry City), Eanna Madden (Carrick on Shannon), Jonathan Browning (Ballymena & Antrim) and Marcus Lawler (SLOT) finished 8th in 39.52 to go number three on the Irish all-time list.
The women’s 4x100m relay team of Joan Healy, Phil Healy (both Bandon), Sarah Murray (Fingallians) and Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank) finished 8th in their heat in a season’s best of 44.29.
In the women’s 5,000m final Deirdre Byrne finished an excellent 10th in 15:53.67.
Claire McCarthy (Leevale) and Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) get Irish interest underway tomorrow at 8:30am in the women’s half marathon.
They will be followed on the road soon after by the men’s team of Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders), Gary Murray (Clonliffe Harriers), Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers), Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock), Mark Hanrahan (Leevale) and Kevin Seaward (Ballymena & Antrim) at 8:50am.
Michelle Finn (Leevale), Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) and Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) compete in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final at 17:15 with Ciara Mageean (UCD) in the women’s 1500m final at 17:45.
Kevin Batt (DSD) runs in the men’s 5,000m final at 18:10 with the men’s 4x400m relay team bidding for Rio qualification at 18:50 – the last race of the programme. There will be extensive coverage on RTE 2.
For the report of the first session on Day 4 click HERE
