WATERFORD ATHLETE THOMAS Barr produced a superb run to finish third in the 400m hurdles at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha, Qatar.
Barr, the Irish record holder over the 400m hurdles, was making his first appearance at this level of competition and finished behind two former Olympic medallists.
The Ferrybank AC man ran a time of 48.99 seconds as he came in just behind US athlete Bershawn Jackson [48.09] and Puerto Rican Javier Culson [48.96]. Jackson won bronze at the 2008 Olympics, while Culson did the same in 2012.
Barr was drawn in lane seven for the race, with the favoured pair of Jackson and Culson inside him. Jackson made an excellent start, but Barr finished brilliantly over the last 100m to force his way into third and almost pip Culson for second.
Barr’s Irish record, which he set in Geneva last year, is 48.90 and this impressive performance sees him closing in on that mark. The Déise athlete was also part of the 4X400m Ireland team that set a national record in Zurich last year, when he lined up with Brian Gregan, Brian Murphy and Richard Morrissey.
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With August’s IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Beijing looming, 22-year-old Barr’s form is highly encouraging. Further down the line, Barr will be eyeing the Rio Olympics with ever-growing confidence.
