CUSAI Olympians Advance To Finals - WUGs Wednesday round-up
Irish athletes were on form again today [Wednesday] at the World University Games in Belgrade, with Beijing Olympians Fionnuala Britton and Eileen O'Keeffe advancing to the finals.
Athletics -
Britton secured her place in the 3,000m steeplechase final on Friday running a season's best of 10:05.89 minutes. The DCU athlete finished second in her heat, hot on the heels of Spaniard Teresa Urbina Gomez.
"Because we were in the second heat I thought we'd go out harder because the four fastest losers could come from our heat but we didn't really and I felt comfortable," said Britton.
"I haven't ran that quick this year so it was good to be able to go out and feel good, it was good psychologically I suppose. I was probably in the weaker heat today and the two girls who finished first and second in the other heat looked so comfortable so they would probably be favourites. It is hard to tell though because no-one really wants to show what they are like in the heats and would save it for the final."
As regards hopes for a medal in the competition, the runner from Wicklow town is ready to try and pull something out of the bag.
She said: "The way my season's going it's hard to tell because it's been up and down but I have to give it a shot really now that I'm in the final."
Eileen O'Keeffe needed just one attempt to reach the qualification target for the final of the women's hammer throw. She hit 68.08m with her first throw to take her through to Friday's final. O'Keeffe, who is from Kilkenny, eased past the 63m qualification requirement.
Back on the track, Tom Carey finished third in his heat of the 400m hurdles with a time of 52.42 seconds. His overall placing of 11th will see him take part in the semi-final tomorrow.
In the semi-finals of the 400m Claire Bergin ran 55.17 seconds to finish 12 overall, closely followed by 13th place Fiona O'Friel running 55.41 seconds. Both missed the top eight finish they needed to get to the final.
Swimming -
Ireland again put in a sterling performances in the pool with the men's 100m freestyle record being broken twice, by two different students.
Barry Murphy and Ryan Harrison both finished inside the previous record with times of 50.02 and 50.19 respectively.
The University of Tennessee-based swimmer broke the record which he set in the opening leg of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay on Sunday.
Andrew Meegan was also in action on Wednesday, swimming the heats of the 1500m freestyle in a time of 16.00.45 minutes.
Football -
There was a change in fortunes for men's football as they got their first win under their belts running out 4-1 winners against Ghana.
DIT student David O'Sullivan scored a trio of headers in the win which puts the side through to face Morocco on Friday in a play-off for 13th place. Brian Cleary grabbed the fourth for Ireland in the 69th minute to put the game beyond the Ghanaians reach.
The women's footballers are also through to a 13th place play-off on Friday after beating South Africa 6-3 at Vozdovac FC stadium.
A brace from Nakita Burke and goals from Mary Waldron, Sarah McGrath, Bronagh Sheridan, and Rachel Furness.
Friday's fixture will see the women play Hungary, who they have already beaten in the group stages.