Emer Purtill (Dooneen AC) has finished 14^th in the Women’s Heptathlon on the second day of competition at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti, Italy.

The Limerick woman achieved personal bests in four of her seven events, adding over 100 points to her previous best on her way to scoring 5319 points. Purtill rounded out her championships with an 800m PB of 2:32.92 having this morning achieved a new Long Jump PB of 5.45m. She was fifth overall in the Javelin, one of her strongest events, with a throw of 45.23m.

In the Men’s 1500m heats Charlie O’Neill (Donore Harriers) booked his spot in Sunday’s final despite being boxed in for much of the race. The Dubliner eventually managed to navigate his way out of trouble with around 150 metres to go, crossing the line fourth in 3:59.35. His compatriot Luke Merrigan (Leevale AC) missed out on the final by one place. With just six athletes to automatically progress in each heat, the Cork man was seventh in 4:00.52.

Earlier in the session evening Evelyn Kwik (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Aisling Shevlin (Ratoath AC) competed in the semi-finals of the Women’s 400m. Kwik was sixth in her semi-final, recording her second fastest ever time of 55.21, while Shevlin was seventh in her race in 56.16. Unfortunately, neither athlete advanced to the final.

Ethan Carr (Ballymena and Antrim AC) also competed well in his Men’s 400m semi-final, clocking 48.76 from lane one to finish seventh, ultimately not enough to progress.

In the morning session, all three Irish 400m Hurdlers advanced to the semi-finals. Elle-Kate McRae (Midleton AC), Arron Whelan (Dunboyne AC) and Daniel Downey (Portlaoise AC) all impressed in their heats in the morning sunshine to seal their places in the next round tomorrow.

McRae shattered the Irish U18 record for the event, clocking 59.09 seconds to win her heat comfortably. This was the second-fastest qualifying time only bettered by Czechia’s Linda Botková who smashed the championship record by running 56.79 seconds.

“I’m ecstatic, so happy,” McRae told Athletics Ireland afterwards. “I really just wanted to go out there and execute the race, it all went to plan. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going into the semi-finals.”

Whelan knocked nearly a second off his personal best to finish third in the opening heat of the Men’s 400m Hurdles. The Dunboyne man still managed to look around down the home straight and ease down to the line, a sign that they’re might be a faster time to come tomorrow.

Downey also made qualification look relatively easy finishing fourth in the final heat in 53.73, his second fastest ever time. The Laois man will look to get close to or better his 53.30 personal best tomorrow afternoon.

Isabelle Gaffney (West Waterford AC) and Tara-Rose Smith (Finn Valley AC) also made light work of the heats of the Women’s 800m to qualify for tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Gaffney looked assured in her heat finishing second in 2:10.60, while Smith’s heat was the fastest, her time of 2:08.72 is her third fastest ever and just over a second outside her PB. She placed second in the race.

Tiffany Nwaedozie (Belgooly AC) and Christopher Olatunde (Ratoath AC) were both unfortunately unable to progress from their respective 200m heats, despite producing strong performances.

Nwaedozie was sixth in her heat of the Women’s 200m crossing the line in 24.95 seconds, following a blistering start, while Olatunde missed out on a semi-final spot by just one hundredth of a second. Despite finishing seventh, the Meath man’s heat was by far the fastest and his 21.66 clocking (second fastest ever) was agonisingly close to being enough to progress.

Five Irish athletes are in finals action tomorrow. Daniel Glennon (Mullingar Harriers) goes in the final of the Men’s 5000m Race Walk, before Lucie Cawley (Sligo AC) and Ally Duffy (Tullamore Harriers) race in the final of the Women’s 2000m Steeplechase in the morning session. Tomorrow evening Emma Hickey (United Striders AC) competes in a straight final of the Women’s 1500m, before Tara Laverty (Carrick Aces AC) returns to the circle following her Irish U18 record yesterday to throw in the Women’s Discus final.

Team Ireland Results Summary

Day Two – Morning Session – Friday July 17^th

• Emer Purtill – Women’s Heptathlon – Long Jump – 5.45m PB (686 points)
• Isabelle Gaffney – Women’s 800m – Heat 1/4 – 2:10.60 Q (2^nd)
• Tara Rose-Smith – Women’s 800m – Heat 2/4 – 2:08.72 Q (2^nd)
• Arron Whelan – Men’s 400m Hurdles – Heat 1/5 – 53.13 PB Q (3^rd)
• Daniel Downey – Men’s 400m Hurdles – Heat 5/5 – 53.73 Q (4^th)
• Tiffany Nwaedozie – Women’s 200m – Heat 4/5 – 24.95 (6^th, does not advance)
• Christopher Olatunde – Men’s 200m – Heat 2/5 – 21.66 (7^th, does not advance)
• Emer Purtill – Women’s Heptathlon – Javelin Throw – 45.23m (768 points)

Day Two – Evening Session – Friday July 17^th

• Evelyn Kwik – Women’s 400m – SF 1/3 – 55.21 (6^th, does not advance)
• Aisling Shevlin – Women’s 400m – SF 2/3 – 56.16 (7^th, does not advance)
• Ethan Carr – Men’s 400m – SF 3/3 – 48.76 (7^th, does not advance)
• Emer Purtill – Women’s Heptathlon – 800m – 2:32.92 PB (657 points)
• Emer Purtill – Women’s Heptathlon – 5319 points PB (14^th)
• Luke Merrigan – Men’s 1500m – Heat 1/2 – 4:00.52 (7^th, does not advance)
• Charlie O’Neill – Men’s 1500m – Heat 2/2 – 3:59.35 Q (4^th)

Team Ireland Schedule: Irish Time (Local time in brackets)

Day Three – Morning Session – Saturday July 18^th

• Daniel Glennon – Men’s 5000m Race Walk – Final – 08:05 (09:05)
• Lucie Cawley – Women’s 2000m Steeplechase – Final – 08:45 (09:45)
• Ally Duffy – Women’s 2000m Steeplechase – Final – 08:45 (09:45)
• Tara-Rose Smith – Women’s 800m – SF 1/2 – 09:07 (10:07)
• Kevin O’Shea – Men’s Javelin Throw – Qualification Group B – 09:10 (10:10)
• Isabelle Gaffney – Women’s 800m – SF 2/2 – 09:15 (10:15)

Day Three – Evening Session – Saturday July 18^th

• Daniel Downey – Men’s 400m Hurdles – SF 1/3 – 16:20 (17:20)
• Arron Whelan – Men’s 400m Hurdles – SF 3/3 – 16:36 (17:36)
• Elle-Kate McRae – Women’s 400m Hurdles – SF 3/3 – 17:06 (18:06)
• Emma Hickey – Women’s 1500m – Final – 17:35 (18:35)
• Tara Laverty – Girls Discus Throw – Final – 18:20 (19:20)

Where to watch

All four days of the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti are live on Eurovision Sport HERE. Registration is required.

• Results are HERE
• Interviews and updates available on Athletics Ireland social media channels
• Records subject to ratification