European Championships 2016 - Day 3 (am) - Athletics Ireland Report
Athletics Ireland Release
History for Irish Steeplechase Trio at European Championships
It was a great opening session for the Irish on day three of the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam with Michelle Finn (Leevale), Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) and Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) qualifying for the final of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Michelle Finn with 6 laps to go
6 laps to go pic.twitter.com/aYEW1ssStj
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 8, 2016
Michelle Finn finishing Steeplechase
And Michelle Finn is through to the women's steeplechase final! 4th in 9:45.93 seasons best #ECH2016 pic.twitter.com/NmjFBO7AOA
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 8, 2016
It was a historic day with all three athletes making the European final. Michelle Finn finished fourth in a season’s best of 9:45.93 in the first heat of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase with the first five to qualify automatically for the final on Sunday. Finn came through strongly and was pleased with her effort. “I ran much better than my earlier races this season and coped better with the number of athletes around the barriers,” said Finn. “I feel remarkably good afterwards so we’ll see what happens in the final.”
Sara Treacy and Kerry O’Flaherty were pitted against each other in the second heat and both came through strongly to advance to the final. Treacy took the final automatic qualifying spot in fifth in a new personal best of 9:42.16 while O’Flaherty qualified comfortably in sixth as a non-automatic qualifier with a big season’s best of 9:45.53.
“I knew I had a personal best in me from training,” said Treacy afterwards. “I’m really pleased with that and looking forward to the final.” O’Flaherty was equally pleased: “That’s a big step forward and it’s great to get all three girls into the final.”
Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim) was pleased to advance to the semi-finals of the women’s 400m hurdles semi-finals after finishing fourth in heat four in 57.73. “I made one or two mistakes towards the end but the point is to get through and I did that,” she said afterwards.
Ben Reynolds (North Down) got Irish action underway with a 7th place finish in the first heat of the men’s 110m hurdles in a season’s best of 13.87. The race took place during torrential rain
Program - Friday Afternoon
17.15 Women’s 1500 heats – Ciara Mageean, Rose Ann Galligan
17.50 Men’s 200m SF
18.15 Women’s 100m SF
18.40 Men’s 400m hurdles final
19.25 Women’s 400m final
20.25 Men’s steeplechase final
Afternoon Session Update
Ciara Mageean through in third place in Heat 1, in 4:13.61
And she's through! Ciara Mageean third in heat 1 in 4:13.61 in the women's 1500 #ECH2016 pic.twitter.com/a5ISl4aoSC
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 8, 2016
Day 2 - Thursday - Afternoon Report