IRELAND’S THOMAS BARR produced a strong finish to earn automatic qualification in this evening’s 400m hurdle semi-finals at the European Championships in Berlin.
The Waterford man briefly looked in a spot of trouble, dropping to fourth before banishing any doubt and showing his speed endurance during the final 100 metres to comfortably take second place behind an impressive run from Turkey’s Yasmani Copello.
The 26-year-old’s 49.10 is the seventh-fastest time recorded over the three semi-finals, with Norway’s Karsten Warholm leading the way on 48.67.
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However, putting his slightly sluggish opening down to an uncharacteristic touch of nerves, Barr is confident he can run much faster when the European final goes under the gun at 19.15 on Thursday evening.
I was quite nervous beforehand, but I knew I was in good shape. I probably went a little too relaxed down the back straight and the top bend. I did leave myself a bit of work to do on the home straight, but I knew I had that strength there and I used it.”
“I expected (Copello) to go quickly and I wanted to hang on his coat-tails without expending too much energy. But it got the job done and I’m in the final Thursday.”
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
He added: “I have that race banked, I’m not feeling too lacticy now, so I know I can go out hard in that first 200.”
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'I knew I had strength there and I used it': Thomas Barr finishes strong to power into European final
IRELAND’S THOMAS BARR produced a strong finish to earn automatic qualification in this evening’s 400m hurdle semi-finals at the European Championships in Berlin.
The Waterford man briefly looked in a spot of trouble, dropping to fourth before banishing any doubt and showing his speed endurance during the final 100 metres to comfortably take second place behind an impressive run from Turkey’s Yasmani Copello.
The 26-year-old’s 49.10 is the seventh-fastest time recorded over the three semi-finals, with Norway’s Karsten Warholm leading the way on 48.67.
However, putting his slightly sluggish opening down to an uncharacteristic touch of nerves, Barr is confident he can run much faster when the European final goes under the gun at 19.15 on Thursday evening.
“The aim was to come out and qualify for the final so there was a bit of pressure on me, expectation,” Barr told RTÉ’s David Gillick immediately after his run.
“I expected (Copello) to go quickly and I wanted to hang on his coat-tails without expending too much energy. But it got the job done and I’m in the final Thursday.”
He added: “I have that race banked, I’m not feeling too lacticy now, so I know I can go out hard in that first 200.”
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Athletics Berlin European Championships more in the tank RTÉ Thomas Barr