Britton & Foster Continue Irish Momentum at the European Indoor Track and Field Championships

Day two of the European Indoor Track and Field Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden started off on a positive note with two more Irish athletes progressing from their respective heats. Double European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) was in superb form as she easily qualified for the women's 3,000m final. While Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) followed suit and raced into the semi-finals of the women's 60m.

High performance director Kevin Ankrom commented "We are keeping the momentum going, Amy ran a good race, and also Fionnuala who never looked troubled was good and steady. I am looking forward to tonight; it is a good opportunity for championship running from all of the athletes. "

Fionnuala Britton was drawn in the first semi-final of the 3,000m and needed to finish in the top four positions in order to guarantee qualification for Sunday's final. Charlotta Fougberg of Sweden led the race through the first 1,000m in a pedestrian 3:08.58 with Britton comfortable sitting in the pack in eight position. One of the pre-race favourites Sara Moreira of Portugal was beginning to become complacent and she picked up the pace reaching the 2,000m mark in 6:10.07

Britton never panicked and was running confidently in third place with Great Britain's Lauren Howarth for company. Moreira controlled the pace and won the heat in a time of 9:01.00 with Howarth and Britton crossing the line together in 9:03.30.

Commenting afterwards Britton said "I kept my eye on Sara Moreira, I knew to follow her, she doesn't jump in and out of pace so it's good to follow her. I eased off over the last one hundred; I didn't need to sprint, which would be stupid. I will plan for the final tonight."

The final of the women's 3,000m final takes place tomorrow at 11.10am.

Amy Foster was drawn in heat two of the women's 60m and needed to finish in the top four positions to guarantee qualification for the next round. Foster got out of the blocks well and drove all the way to the line to finish in fifth place. Her time of 7.33 was good enough to qualify her as fastest looser for tomorrow's semi-finals. Ezinne Okparaebo of Norway won the heat in a time of 7.13.

Commenting afterward Foster said "I want to put a good race together for the semi and I want to run a personal best. The track feels fast, I don't think it's as fast as Athlone, but I'm being biased to Athlone!"

Foster's semi-final will take place at 15.30 on Sunday the 3rd of March.

The action in Gothenburg continues this afternoon with Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Ciaran O'Lionaird (Leevale AC), Roseanne Galligan (Newbridge AC) and Ciara Everard (UCD AC) all in action for the Irish team.