Positive first day for Irish juniors
It was a positive first day for the Irish at the World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz with three out of the four athletes qualifying for the next round.
Carla Sweeney (WSAF) and Louise Shanahan (Leevale) got action underway this morning in the heats of the 800m with both athletes advancing through to the semi-finals. Sweeney finished 5th in heat 1 in 2:08.41 and qualified as a fastest non-automatic qualifier.
Shanahan went even better finishing second in heat 6 in 2:11.00 to qualify automatically with an impressive sprint finish in the last 100 metres. “I always try and save something for the last 100m,” said Shanahan. “A lot of people kick with 200m to go so I try to hold my effort and see what I have in the straight.”
In the evening session Jenna Bromell (Emerald) went through automatically in third in heat 4 of the 400m in 54.98. “Hopefully that will shake the legs out. It was tough from lane 8,” said Bromell.
Mollie O’Reilly (DSD) missed out on the semi-finals finishing 6th in heat 6 but ran a PB of 54.92.
Keep up to speed with the championships HERE
Irish in action tomorrow
Wednesday July 20
Michaela Walsh (Swinford) Wednesday July 20 Shot put heats/final - 8:40/17:35
Adam King (Iveragh) Hammer Group A/B 11:50/13:10
Owen Russell (St. Andrew's) Hammer Group A/B 11:50/13:10
Louise Shanahan (Leevale) 800m semi-final 17:45
Carla Sweeney (WSAF) 800m semi-final 17:45
Jenna Bromell (Emerald) 400m semi-final 18:50
