Sarah Lavin Tops Podium, Thomas Barr Misses Olympic Mark in Bydgoszcz

On a pleasant sunny evening in Bydgoszcz, three Irish athletes took to the track to compete in the Memoriał Ireny Szewińskiej meet. This event is named after the late Irena Szewińska, Poland’s most prolific track and field athlete, who won three gold medals in three different events across three different Olympic Games from 1964 to 1972.

However, it was the Paris 2024 Olympic Games that were on Thomas Barr's mind as he competed for the second time in three days, following his run in Finland on Tuesday. He ran impressively, finishing very strongly in the last hundred metres to secure 2nd place with a time of 48.79 seconds, a season's best for the Ferrybank AC athlete. Despite this achievement, the time was still outside the Olympic standard, agonisingly close to the required 48.70 seconds. The silver lining for Thomas lies in the fact that his performance will give him a significant boost in ranking points, allowing him to break into the Olympic event quota of 40 athletes for the series.

Eueo 100m hurdle finalist Sarah Lavin also took to the starting blocks at the event, comfortably winning her open heat in a strong time of 12.80 seconds. Lavin then stormed home in the final, winning in an even more impressive time of 12.75 seconds.

Finally, Corkman Charlie O’Donovan competed in the Men’s 1500m event, finishing 9th with a time of 3:42.52.

Tomorrow, the World Athletics Continental Silver Tour rolls into Madrid, with Nick Griggs, Sharelene Mawdsley, and Mark English on the starting list.

Memoriał Ireny Szewińskiej Results

Thomas Barr - Men's 400m Hurdles - 4th - 48.79

Sarah Lavin - Women's 100m Hurdles Heat - 1st - 12.80
Sarah Lavin - Women's 100m Hurdles Final - 1st - 12.75

Charlie O'Donovan - Men's 1500m - 9th - 3:42.52