European Athletics Championships 2018 - Irish Day 5 Review

Strong 4th Place Semi Finish for Phil Healy

European Championships

Berlin

Friday August 10th 2018

Athletics Ireland Release (9pm) - Feidhlim Kelly

Healy 11th overall in 200m in Berlin

Phil Healy (Bandon) finished a strong fourth in her 200m semi-final in 23.23 sec, which placed her 11th overall at the European Athletics Championships, in Berlin this evening, Friday August 10th.

This was another top 12 performance for the Irish team, and Healy was happy with her overall campaign.

"I'm really happy with that overall, with four races in such a short space of time," Healy said afterwards, having also made the semi-finals in the 100m.

"It's my third fastest time ever, so I'm happy to produce that. I've the relay to come, so hopefully things go well for that. The girls have been practising baton changes all week."

The Bandon athlete will compete in the heats of the women's 4x100m relay on Sunday, where they will be running in lane 3, in heat 2, at 17:38pm Irish time.

Cian McManamon (Westport) and Alex Wright (Leevale) compete in the men's 20km race walk tomorrow morning, at 9:55 Irish time.

Athletics Ireland Release (1pm) - Feidhlim Kelly

Healy and Mageean power through

Ciara Mageean (UCD) cruised through to the final of the women’s 1500m and Phil Healy (Bandon) advanced to the semi-finals of the 200m this morning at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin (August 10th).

Mageean looked smooth and controlled throughout her heat and finished second in 4:09.35 behind championship favourite Laura Muir of Great Britain to qualify automatically.

“I came in her to get the big Q (automatic qualification) and I did that,” said Mageean confidently afterwards. “The box is ticked and now to get ready for the final.”

Phil Healy was the first Irish athlete on the track this morning and she sped through to the 200m semi-finals this evening finishing third in 23.34 to also qualify automatically.

“Job done,” said Healy straight after. “It was cooler this morning so I had plenty of layers on warming up and got it done.”

Healy goes in lane 6 this evening at 18:55 Irish time in the second semi-final.

There was no joy for the steeplechasers and relay teams in advancing to respective finals.

Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) finished 17th in heat 1 of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in 10:09.71 while Michelle Finn (Leevale) was 16th in heat 2 in 10:10.93.

“My running legs just weren’t there today and there’s no hiding place in the steeple,” said O’Flaherty afterwards. “It’s disappointing from being in the final in 2016 obviously.”

Equally Michelle Finn had nothing in the legs. “I just felt flat and I just couldn’t get going,” said Finn.

The men’s 4x400m relay team of Chris O’Donnell (North Sligo), Brandon Arrey (Raheny Shamrock), Leon Reid (Menapians) and Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) had to settle for a fifth place finish in their heat in 3:06.55.

Barr had to use his hurdle technique on the last leg to navigate a fallen runner at the changeover and was pleased with the young team’s performance who were 11th overall.

“We’re a green team to pardon the pun and I think we did well out there as a young team. I’m 26 and the oldest member on the team so there’s plenty more to come,” said Barr.

The women’s team of Sinead Denny (DSD), Sophie Becker (St Joseph’s), Davicia Patterson (Beechmount Harriers) and Claire Mooney (UCD) finished 8th in their heat in 3:35.96.

There were two championship debuts for Sophie Becker and Davicia Patterson who both got valuable experience.

“I’ve never run on an international relay team before at any level so that was a good experience,” said Patterson who set a new national U20 400m record this season and competed in the World U20 championships.

Phil Healy is the only Irish competitor this evening.

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

A history of the Irish at the European Athletics Championships

Irish European Championships Timetable

European Championships Preview and Irish Athletes Timetable 2018

Irish Athletes Schedule - Day 6 - Saturday August 11th

Saturday	August 11th	- AM	Irish Time	Venue Time	Athlete	Club	Event
			09:55	10:55	Cian McManamon	Westport	20k Race Walk Final
			09:55	10:55	Alex Wright	Leevale	20k Race Walk Final

Saturday	August 11th	- PM	Irish Time	Venue Time	Athlete	Club	Event
			20:30	21:30			Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final
			20:50	21:50			Women's 4 x 400m Relay Final