European Athletics Championships 2018 - Irish Day 3 Review

Leon Reid has Dream Debut to Make European Final

European Championships

Berlin

Wednesday August 8th 2018

Athletics Ireland Release (1pm) - Feidhlim Kelly

Lawler bows out in Berlin

Marcus Lawler (SLOT) bowed out of the European Athletics Championships, in the heats of the 200m, finishing fifth in 20.80 seconds, in Berlin this morning, August 8th.

“I’m bitterly disappointed with that,” Lawler who was running from lane 2, said afterwards. “I had a target of making the final, so I’m really disappointed. My preparation was good. That performance wasn’t good enough, and didn’t cut it.”

It had been a successful season up to this point for Lawler, having run 20.40. This made it a hard pill to swallow straight after the race, for the Carlow sprinter. Nevertheless, he can look back on a positive season, and build on this experience for 2019.

In other news, Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) has withdrawn from the marathon due to an Achilles injury, and Ben Reynolds (North Down) has pulled out of the 110m hurdles, due to a lower back problem.

Leon Reid (Menapians) competes in the semi-finals of the men's 200m this evening, while Emma Mitchell (Queens) goes in the women's 10,000m final.

Athlete interviews are available on Athletics Ireland social media channels, and also on RTE, where there is extensive coverage of the championships.

Live timetable, results and live stream are on European Athletics

Athletics Ireland Release (9pm) - Feidhlim Kelly

Reid’s Dream Debut to Make European Final

Leon Reid (Menapians) made a dream debut in the green singlet, finishing second in his 200m semi-final, in 20.38 sec, to make the final at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin today, August 8th.

Reid was running from lane 3, and ran his customary strong finishing straight. He looks to have plenty in store for tomorrow’s final, where he will run in lane 8.

“It’s a dream come true to finally run for Ireland, and make the final,” Reid said happily afterwards. “It’s a super suit,” he commented on wearing the green singlet. His time of 20.38, places him second on the Irish all-time list.

No Irish male sprinter has ever won a medal at a European championship since its inauguration, in Turinin, 1934. Tomorrow there will be two opportunities to rectify that; Reid in the 200m, and Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) in the 400m hurdles.

Emma Mitchell (Queens) ran in a gruelling women’s 10,000m final, where she finished 17th, in 34:08.61. “I gave it everything I had, but there was nothing there. It was really hot, but it was the same for everyone,” said Mitchell afterwards.

Other Irish athletes in action tomorrow (August 9th) are Mark English (UCD) and Zak Curran (DSD), in the heats of the men’s 800m.

A history of the Irish at the European Athletics Championships

Irish European Championships Timetable

European Championships Preview and Irish Athletes Timetable 2018

European Athletics Championships 2018 - Irish Day 1 Review

European Athletics Championships 2018 - Irish Day 2 Review

Irish Athletes Schedule - Day 4 - Thursday August 9th

Thursday	August 9th	- AM	Irish Time	Venue Time	Athlete	Club	Event
			09:55	10:55	Ben Reynolds	North Down	110m Hurdles Heats
			10:30	11:30	Mark English	UCD	800m Heats
			10:30	11:30	Zak Curran	DSD	800m Heats

Thursday	August 9th	- PM	Irish Time	Venue Time	Athlete	Club	Event
			19:15	20:15	Thomas Barr	Ferrybank	400m hurdles Final
			20:05	21:05	Leon Reid	Menapians	200m Final