KATE O’CONNOR REMAINS firmly in the hunt for a podium finish in the women’s heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships after running a personal best to finish third in her 200m heat.
Newry woman O’Connor sits third overall after Day 1 with 3,926 points, trailing only Adrianna Sulek-Schumbert of Poland (3,968) and the Netherlands’ Sofie Dokter (3,944).
O’Connor ran her 200m heat in a PB time of 23.79 seconds.
Earlier in the evening, she had finished 11th in the shot put with a distance of 13.96m, her final and best effort of the evening.
“I’m happy with that one [the 200m]“, O’Connor said upon the conclusion of Friday’s action, “but in the shot I feel like I let myself down a little. I had a lead on certain people, and I swung the door back open, but it’s really hard to string seven perfect performances together.
“I’ve managed to put together three really strong performances and one that wasn’t quite as strong. I feel fit, I feel healthy and I’m leaving day one feeling positive and in a good position.
“I’ve given myself a fighting chance tomorrow.”
O’Connor made a brilliant start to the day, her first event in Birmingham being the 100m hurdles.
Elsewhere, Andrew Coscoran has advanced to the men’s 1500m final after an impressive run, while Cathal Doyle failed in his appeal after falling in the first semi-final.
Coscoran finished fourth in the second in 3:41.86 as the top six progressed.
Doyle went down in the first race, but completed it in 4:36.28 to finish 15th.
Cathal Doyle took a tumble and hit the deck in his 1,500m heat. He did get up to finish the race but felt he was clipped from behind. An Irish appeal will go in. #rtesport#EuropeanAthleticspic.twitter.com/EqZn7fz23n
Earlier, in the men’s 4x400m relay, the Irish team of Andrew Egan, Jack Raftery, Joe Doody and Sean Doggett ran a brilliant race but finished sixth in the second heat.
They were later upgraded to the fifth due to the French team being disqualified.
A season-best time of 3:01.76 was just half a second off the Irish record.
Egan ran the first leg in 46.4, before Raftery closed the ground with an excellent 44.7 split.
Doody was next up, clocking 45.8, before Doggett finished a highly competitive Irish effort with a strong 44.86.
The Irish men's 4x400m relay team reflect on the European Championships experience, saying that their season's best effort in their heat 'exceded their expectations' #rtesport#EuropeanAthleticspic.twitter.com/odpO956m9B
The Irish women’s 4x400m relay team finished eighth – and last – in their heat in 3:32.58, some way off the national record of 3:19.90.
Rhasidat Adeleke was absent after her stunning 200m silver on Thursday night, while the team were also without the injured Sharlene Mawdsley in two major blows.
Sophie Becker started with their fastest split of 52.6 after her individual 400m efforts, before Jenna Breen clocked 53.3 on the second leg.
Cliodhna Manning ran 53.0 to move up to seventh, while Arlene Crossan was eventually picked off as she closed out with an anchor split of 53.86.
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Kate O'Connor runs PB in 200m to remain firmly in medal hunt
LAST UPDATE | 14 Aug
KATE O’CONNOR REMAINS firmly in the hunt for a podium finish in the women’s heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships after running a personal best to finish third in her 200m heat.
Newry woman O’Connor sits third overall after Day 1 with 3,926 points, trailing only Adrianna Sulek-Schumbert of Poland (3,968) and the Netherlands’ Sofie Dokter (3,944).
O’Connor ran her 200m heat in a PB time of 23.79 seconds.
Earlier in the evening, she had finished 11th in the shot put with a distance of 13.96m, her final and best effort of the evening.
“I’m happy with that one [the 200m]“, O’Connor said upon the conclusion of Friday’s action, “but in the shot I feel like I let myself down a little. I had a lead on certain people, and I swung the door back open, but it’s really hard to string seven perfect performances together.
“I’ve managed to put together three really strong performances and one that wasn’t quite as strong. I feel fit, I feel healthy and I’m leaving day one feeling positive and in a good position.
“I’ve given myself a fighting chance tomorrow.”
O’Connor made a brilliant start to the day, her first event in Birmingham being the 100m hurdles.
Running in the outside lane, O’Connor clocked a personal best of 13.30 to finish fourth in heat two, and place 11th overall.
She then cleared s 1.86m to equal her high jump PB, adding 1,054 points to her total and moving her into third position overall.
On Saturday, O’Connor will compete in the long jump (10.25am), javelin (11.55am) and 800m (7.45pm).
Elsewhere, Andrew Coscoran has advanced to the men’s 1500m final after an impressive run, while Cathal Doyle failed in his appeal after falling in the first semi-final.
Coscoran finished fourth in the second in 3:41.86 as the top six progressed.
Doyle went down in the first race, but completed it in 4:36.28 to finish 15th.
Earlier, in the men’s 4x400m relay, the Irish team of Andrew Egan, Jack Raftery, Joe Doody and Sean Doggett ran a brilliant race but finished sixth in the second heat.
They were later upgraded to the fifth due to the French team being disqualified.
A season-best time of 3:01.76 was just half a second off the Irish record.
Egan ran the first leg in 46.4, before Raftery closed the ground with an excellent 44.7 split.
Doody was next up, clocking 45.8, before Doggett finished a highly competitive Irish effort with a strong 44.86.
The Irish women’s 4x400m relay team finished eighth – and last – in their heat in 3:32.58, some way off the national record of 3:19.90.
Rhasidat Adeleke was absent after her stunning 200m silver on Thursday night, while the team were also without the injured Sharlene Mawdsley in two major blows.
Sophie Becker started with their fastest split of 52.6 after her individual 400m efforts, before Jenna Breen clocked 53.3 on the second leg.
Cliodhna Manning ran 53.0 to move up to seventh, while Arlene Crossan was eventually picked off as she closed out with an anchor split of 53.86.
- With reporting from Emma Duffy
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Athletics european athletics championships Heptathlon kate o'connor