Brian Gregan and Pamela Hughes advance from preliminaries The 12th IAAF World Junior Championships got under way in Bydgoszcz, Poland today with many of Ireland’s athletes in action. Tallaght AC man Brian Gregan and Westport High Jumper Pamela Hughes were the pick of the Irish competitors. <img id="image4446" src="http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/DSC03027.jpg" alt="Brian Gregan" /> Brian Gregan Gregan blew away his field to take first place in Heat 5 of the 400m. The Irish Junior record holder at 400m now advances to the semi-finals tomorrow evening. Hughes qualified for the final of the high jump with a height of 1.78 metres. She will now be hoping to improve on that again in Thursdays final. California based Shot Putter, Colin Quirke, had a disappointing performance today and exits the Championships. The son of former Irish Olympian, Paul Quirke, failed to make it past the heats with a throw of 18.21m. There was further disappointment for the Irish in the 100m and 3,000m Steeplechase. Niamh Whelan and Joan Healy both failed to come through their heats in the 100m while Tara Jameson came 15th in her heat of the 3,000m Steeplechase. Whelan was third in heat 1 with 11.96 and Healy was sixth in heat 7 with 12.05 and both will now turn their attention to the 4X100m Relay on Friday. Ciara Everard struggled with the pace in her heat of the 800m and finished in 8th with a time of 2.09.85.