LAST UPDATE | 24 Jun 2023
SARAH LAVIN PAID an emotional tribute to her late partner, rally star Craig Breen, after she won Ireland’s second medal of the European Games in Poland.
The Limerick native took home bronze in the 100 metre hurdles, although she was already back home when her third place was secured.
Lavin raced on Wednesday morning as Ireland are in divison three and had to wait for those ranked above to conclude today.
Her time of 12.82 was the second fastest of her career and 0.03 shy a personal best that she achieved in Munich last summer.
Speaking about this victory, Lavin thanked those closest to her following the tragic death of Breen earlier this year.
“I’ve had incredibly special people helping me over the last few months and years, but I think ultimately someone very special up there is helping me,” she said.
“To get that bronze and to be a hundredth of a second off second, it was really, really tight amongst the best.”
Lavin added a special tribute to Breen’s parents, Jackie and Ray, as well as his sister Kellie, brother-in-law Darragh and godson Bobbie.
“Just thank you all so so much because I dreamt this day a little differently, but I’ll remember it forever.”
In boxing, Michaela Walsh and Jennifer Lehan are two wins away from securing their place at the Paris Olympics after reaching the last 16.
Amy Broadhurst also started her campaign without much hassle, an unanimous 5-0 win over Milena Matovic of Serbia setting up a bout with Beatrise Rozentale in the round of 16.
Walsh also made light work Olga Papadatou in the 57kg category, outclassing her Greek opponent by the same scoreline on the judges’ scorecards.
The Belfast fighter has already competed at the Olympic Games back in Tokyo 2020, and her next opponent in the Euros will be Aysen Taskin of Turkey in the round of 16.
In the men’s division, Kelyn Cassidy followed Walsh’s lead with a 5-0 triumph of his own over Norway’s Mindaugas Gedminas.
Cassidy, the Waterford light heavyweight, didn’t let up in his 80kg clash and has set up a date with Taylor Bevan of Wales on Monday.
Meath native Lehane didn’t quite enjoy as comfortable a session as her Ireland teammates, but she showed her spirit and ability with a hard-fought 3-2 win in the 54kg division over Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic.
That tees up a bout with former European Youth gold medal winner Antonia Giannakopoulou, whom had a bye in the opening round.
Jack Fairclough will know tomorrow if he will be a finalist in the shooting event as the men’s skeet event will determine the outcome.
After scoring back-to-back 24s following a 23 in his opening series, Fairclough is currently 25th and well in contention.
Meawnwhile, for Jake Passmore in diving, he is in ninth place at the halfway mark with three dives remaining and a total of 202.50 points so far.
