O'Rourke, Gregan and O'Lionaird Show Class on Day One of the European Indoor Track and Field Championships

Derval O'Rourke (Leevale AC), Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) and Ciaran O'Lionaird (Leevale AC) were in tremendous form on day of the European Indoor Track and Field Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Both Gregan and O'Lionaird won their respective heats of the 400m and 3,000m while O'Rourke finished second in her 60m hurdles heat.

Irish record holder Derval O'Rourke stormed into the semi finals of the women's 60m hurdles. O'Rourke blasted from her blocks and flowed effortlessly over the barriers on her way to second place in heat one of the women's 60m hurdles. O'Rourke recorded a season's best time of 8.05 to automatically qualify for the semi finals scheduled for this evening at 17.27. The heat was won by Turkish rival Nevin Yanit in a time of 8.01.

Commenting afterwards O'Rourke said "It's job done, it's not fast enough or good enough, it needs to be better. I felt I was running pretty controlled." When asked about the possibility of running three races in one day O'Rourke said "I really like that, I don't have a problem with that and I am strong enough for it.

Brian Gregan coasted to a comfortable victory in heat one of the men's 400m. He was drawn in lane five, inside the French indoor record holder Mamoudou Hanne. Gregan controlled the race from the offset and went through the 200m mark in 22.32 with a slight gap over the rest of the field. On the run to the finish Gregan noticeable eased off and won his heat in a time of 46.97 ahead of Vitaliy Butrym of the Ukraine who was awarded the same time. The semi-finals of the men's 400m are scheduled for 16.45 on Saturday the 2nd of March.

Ciaran O'Lionaird was drawn in heat one of the men's 3,000m along with fellow Irish athlete Stephen Scullion (North Belfast Harriers AC). The first four from each heat and the four fastest losers overall was the required criteria for qualification into the final. Polat Kemboi Arikan of Turkey led the field through the 1,000m (2:41.32) and 2,000m (5:21.92) marks with the two Irish athletes still in close contention. O'Lionaird in particular was looking very smooth and controlled as he hit the front with 200m remaining. O'Lionaird showed excellent speed as he swept to victory in a time of 7.55.12.

Stephen Scullion battled all the way to the line to finish in eight place in a time of 8.00.78, just missing out on selection for the final. John Travers (Donore Harriers AC) had a disappointing run to finish eleventh in heat two of the men's 3,000m in a time of 8.23.83. Travers who has had an excellent 2013 indoor season setting personal bests over 1500m and 3000m was understandably bitterly disappointed with his performance.

Kevin Ankrom High Performance Director commented "It's been a good morning; I'm heartbroken for John and Stephen. They will take some experience from these championships. I am excited about Derval's prospects, were hoping for a good evening and some good performance from our team tonight."