Irish on Track in World Indoor Championships - Day 2
World Indoor Championships - Day 2
Birmingham UK
Friday March 2nd 2018
Irish in Action on Day 2
Cork interest in these championships focuses on Bandon AC's Phil Healy, who runs in the women's 400m heats, at lunchtime today. Phil goes in Heat 5, at 12:38pm, and has been drawn in lane 6.
Phil qualified, as fastest of the fastest losers, for tonight's semi-final, at 20:32pm.
First up for Ireland, is Ciara Neville, who runs shortly, in Heat 1 (Lane 7) of the Women's 60m, at 10:35am. She's followed immediately, in Heat 2, Lane 1, by Amy Foster, the irish record-holder, who runs at 10:42
Ciara Mageean rounds off the evening for Ireland, running in Heat 3 of the women's 1,500m, at 7:58pm
Coverage Live on BBC 2
Athletics Ireland Report - Feidhlim Kelly
Phil Healy leads the charge coming around the final bend!
Phil Healy (Bandon) had a brilliant run to advance to the semi-final of the women’s 400m with a third place finish in heat 5 in 52.75 at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Arena Birmingham today (March 2nd).
Healy created history by becoming the first Irish woman to advance to the semi-final of a 400m at a world indoor championship and was suitably pleased.
“It was going to be a testing first 200m,” said Healy starting in lane 6 who split a swift 24.03 at the break to lead. “I ticked the first box and I’m happy with how I ran out there today.”
The Bandon athlete will compete later this evening at 8:32pm.
The 18-year-old Ciara Neville (Emerald) kicked off the Irish campaign in the first heat of the women’s 60m where she clocked 7.47 seconds for seventh. ‘I wanted to do better but it will help to build confidence for the future,” said the Limerick teenager afterwards.
Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) was next up and she finished fifth in heat 2 of the 60m in 7.35. “It’s not a bad run. It’s just not what I was looking for.”
Foster has been in scintillating form this year with an Irish record of 7.27 seconds to win the national senior championships.
She can now go to Berlin in August for the European Athletics Championships with ambitions of a coveted spot in the 100m final.
Ciara Mageean (UCD) will also be in action this evening in the women’s 1500 heats at 7:58pm.
Phil Healy Speaking after her 400m Heat
Athletics Ireland Report - Feidhlim Kelly
Healy Bows out with Brave Run in Birmingham
Phil Healy (Bandon) bowed out of the IAAF World Indoor Championships with a brave run from lane 1 to finish third in her semi-final in 53.26 in Birmingham this evening (March 2nd).
It was a great effort by Healy who qualified in the morning as a fastest qualifier with a 52.75 clocking after blazing through the first 200m in 24.02.
“I said I was going to go out there and die fighting and I’m proud of my performances at these championships,” said Healy afterwards who finished an excellent 12th overall.
Phil Healy speaking after her World Championship Semi-Final
400m - Semi-Final 3
Ciara Mageean (UCD) was the other Irish athlete in evening action on day 2 in the Arena Birmingham and she was disappointed, but not despondent, with her 7th place finish in heat 3 of the 1500m in 4:11.81.
“I’m disappointed but I know I’m running better than that,” said Mageean afterwards.
Ben Reynolds (North Down) is the final Irish competitor in action tomorrow evening (March 3rd) in the heats of the 60m hurdles at 6:37pm.
