IRELAND’S THOMAS BARR produced a brilliant run to take gold in the final of the 400 metre hurdles in the University Games in Gwangju, South Korea.
The Ferrybank clubman finished in a time of 48.78 seconds, keeping up his pace after a solid start to bring him in to a neck-and-neck sprint with Algeria’s Abdelma Lahoulou after the final bend.
With Russia’s Ivan Shablyuev also hot their heels, Lahoulou appeared to edged ahead with 80 metres left, but once Barr cleared the final hurdle he was able to dig deep and find the extra gear to put daylight between him and silver and bronze places.
The University of Limerick student has been in impressive form this week and signalled his podium intent with victory in his heat on Wednesday.
Yesterday, he was the fastest qualifier in the three semi-finals and he well and truly delivered on that promise today with victory in perhaps the most demanding track event.
Update 12.00
In the women’s 800m, Ireland’s Ciara Everard put in a strong challenge to the podium finshers, but ultimately slipped back from fifth place at the bell, to sixth at the finish line in a time of 2:02.46. New Zealand’s Angela Kate Petty claimed gold in 1:59.06.
Kevin Batt battled through his 5,000m semi-final to secure a berth in Sunday’s final with a fifth place finish in 14,19.11.
Originally published 11.10
