Irish women advance to 100m semis

Irish women advance to 100m semis

Ireland’s sprint trio of Molly Scott (SLOT), Ciara Neville (Emerald) and Gina Ake-Moses (Blackrock Louth) advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m on the first morning of competition at the European U23 Athletics Championships in Gavle, Sweden (July 11).

Molly Scott and Ciara Neville and Molly advanced automatically in their heats – Scott was third in heat 2 in 11.98 and Neville was second in heat 3 in 12.00 into strong headwinds. Gina-Akpe Moses was fouth in heat 1 but her time of 11.91 was the fastest non-automatic qualifier for this evening’s semi-finals.

Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) got the Irish action underway in the heptathlon. She started off with a 5th place in her heat of the 100m hurdles in 14.44. She went on to clear a season’s best of 1.73m in the high jump. She has the shot put and the 200m to come later this evening.

There was no joy for the men in the heats of the 400m. Cathal Crosbie (Ennis Track) was closest to advancing to the semi-finals finishing fifth in his heat in 47.98 – ranking 20th overall. It was the 19-year-old’s first major championship.

Chris O’Donnell (North Sligo) and Thomas Pitkin (Clonliffe Harriers) finished 6th in their respective heats in 48.04 and 48.23.

Michaela Walsh (Swinford) was just outside the top 12 for hammer qualification finishing 15th overall with a best of 58.01m