Kate O’Connor ended the opening day of the women’s heptathlon in third place while Andrew Coscoran booked his place in the men’s 1500m final on an eventful day five for Ireland at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Cathal Doyle was left frustrated after a fall and unsuccessful appeal ended his campaign, while Ireland also contested both 4x400m relays and the women’s 10,000m final. Below is the full roundup.
O’Connor Sits Third After Superb Opening Day
Kate O’Connor was the first Irish athlete in action on Friday morning as she began her heptathlon campaign in the 100m hurdles.
The Dundalk St Gerard’s AC athlete finished fourth in her heat with a personal best of 13.30, earning 1,080 points and making a promising start to a packed day of competition.
Her morning got even better in the high jump.
O’Connor cleared 1.86m on her third and final attempt, equalling her personal best and earning another 1,054 points.
The clearance moved her into second place overall on 2,134 points, just one point behind Poland’s Adrianna Sułek Schubert after the opening two events.
O’Connor returned for the shot put in the evening, producing a best throw of 13.96m. That placed her ninth in her group and tenth overall in the event, but it was enough to keep her in second place heading into the 200m.
In her fourth and final event of the day, O’Connor finished fourth in the second heat of the 200m in 23.79. The strong tailwind of 3.4 metres per second means the time cannot count as an official personal best, but it still earned her an important 1,001 points.
O’Connor slipped one place to third after the 200m, ending the day on 3,926 points. She sits just 42 points behind leader Sułek Schubert and only 18 points outside second place.
With the long jump, javelin and 800m still to come on Saturday, O’Connor remains firmly in contention for another major championship medal. It is all to play for on day two.
Young Men’s Relay Team Just Misses Final
Ireland’s men’s 4x400m team of Andrew Egan, Jack Raftery, Joe Doody and Sean Doggett produced an encouraging performance in their opening round heat.
The quartet finished fifth in 3:01.76, placing tenth overall and just outside the eight teams that progressed to the final.
Raftery and Doggett both recorded split times under 45 seconds, offering another indication of the growing strength and depth within Irish men’s 400m running.
The final proved just beyond them on this occasion, but there was plenty in the performance to suggest that this young team has bigger days ahead.
Women’s Relay Team Bows Out
Sophie Becker, Jenna Breen, Cliodhna Manning and Arlene Crossan represented Ireland in the opening round of the women’s 4x400m relay.
The Irish quartet recorded a time of 3:32.58, placing 15th overall and missing out on a place in the final.
It was not the result the team wanted, but the race provided valuable major championship experience for several members of the squad.
Doyle Denied After Fall and Unsuccessful Appeal
There was major frustration for Cathal Doyle in the opening heat of the men’s 1500m.
Doyle took a tumble during the race in an incident that did not appear to be of his own making. He completed the distance before Ireland lodged an appeal seeking his advancement to the final.
The appeal was ultimately rejected, bringing Doyle’s European Championship campaign to a bitter end.
The decision drew anger among Irish athletics supporters, many of whom questioned why Audrey Werro was added to the women’s 800m final following a successful appeal one day earlier, while Doyle was denied the same outcome. Werro had been reinstated after video footage showed that she had been tripped during her race.
Doyle made his frustration clear afterwards, with the rejection leaving another debate over consistency in championship appeals.
Everard Completes Gruelling 10,000m Final
Fiona Everard battled through all 25 laps of the women’s 10,000m final, completing the gruelling distance in 33:08.60.
It was a determined run from the Bandon AC athlete in a demanding championship final.
Unfortunately, Niamh Allen pulled up a did not finish.
Irish Athlete Results, European Athletics Championships Day 5, Morning Session
- Kate O’Connor - Women’s Heptathlon - 100m Hurdles - Heat 2 - 4th - 13.30 PB - 1,080 Points
- Ireland - Men’s 4x400m Relay - Round One - 5th - 3:01.76 - Did Not Advance
- Kate O’Connor - Women’s Heptathlon - High Jump Group A - Joint 1st - 1.86m - 1,054 Points
- Ireland - Women’s 4x400m Relay - Round One - 3:32.58 - Did Not Advance
- Cathal Doyle - Men’s 1500m - Round One - Heat One - Fell - Appeal Unsuccessful - Did Not Advance
- Andrew Coscoran - Men’s 1500m - Round One - Heat Two - 4th - 3:41.86 - Qualified
Irish Athlete Results, European Athletics Championships Day 5, Evening Session
- Kate O’Connor - Women’s Heptathlon - Shot Put Group A - 9th - 13.96m - 791 Points
- Fiona Everard - Women’s 10,000m - Final - 33:08.60
- Niamh Allen - Women’s 10,000m - Final - Did Not Finish
- Kate O’Connor - Women’s Heptathlon - 200m - Heat Two - 4th - 23.79 - 1,001 Points
- Kate O’Connor - Women’s Heptathlon - Standings After Four Events - 3rd - 3,926 Points
