Gregan Fastest of the 400m Qualifiers at European Championships

Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) scorched to new personal best time of 45.63 to win his heat of the men's 400m on day one of the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Gregan ran a brilliant race from the offset and cruised down the home straight to an impressive victory.

Gregan's time of 45.63 was the fastest of all the qualifiers to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for 4.40pm Irish time on Thursday, 28th of June. Commenting afterwards Gregan said "I am absolutely thrilled with the time and the win. We have worked a lot on my technique this year and I think that really showed. I felt fresh and I am now looking forward to the semi-finals where I won't be holding anything back."

Unfortunately things didn't go quite to plan for Irish record holder Joanne Cuddihy (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) in the women's equivalent. Cuddihy was disqualified from heat four of the women's 400m due to a lane infringement. Cuddihy finished the race in third position, which would have automatically qualified her for the semi finals.

Cuddihy along with the Irish team management reviewed the footage afterwards and accepted that she clearly stepped into lane four. Cuddihy herself accepted the descion, but was understandable devastated to be disqualified. Commenting afterwards Joanne said "I felt myself slightly stumble going around the bend with about 160m to go. I am really upset about it and I felt if it had not been for the stumble I would have won the race, it really threw me off my rhythm"

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) impressed when finishing a magnificent second in round one of the men's 400m hurdles. Barr ran a seasonal best time of 50.59 to secure automatic qualification into the semi-finals. Barr at only 19 is one of the youngest members of the 26 strong Irish team and is making his senior Irish debut at these championships.

Barr produced a mature performance sailing safely through to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for tomorrow morning (27th June) at 11.15am Irish time. Commenting after the race Barr said "I felt really good coming down the back straight and from there I felt stronger and stronger as the race went on. I am delighted to be under 51 seconds again and to secure automatic qualification. I am just going to rest now and then give it my all in the semi finals"

Irish team mate Jason Harvey (Crusaders AC) also competed in the men's 400m hurdles heats. Harvey finished in sixth place in a time of 51.83, just outside his season's best of 51.67 and will not progress to the semi-final.

Jessie Barr, sister to Thomas (Ferrybank AC) made it a great day for the Barr household when she finished third in her heat of the women's 400m hurdles. Barr ran a time of 56.30 to book an automatic place in the semi finals. Barr's time was the second fastest of her career, just behind her personal best of 56.14, which she set this year. Barr said "I am relieved to finish third; the aim beforehand was to secure automatic qualification. I was hoping to go sub 56 but if I can get my stride pattern sorted before the semi-finals hopefully that will come"

Double paralympian champion Jason Smyth (City of Derry AC) finished 7th in the men's 100m semi-final in a time of 10.52. Smyth made the semi-finals by qualifying in fourth position (10.47) from the heats held earlier in the day. Smyth got a much better start in the final and only lost out on fifth position on the dip finish.

Smyth said "I knew I would need to run a season best to have a chance of making into the final and that was the target. Unfortunately the two races didn't come together so I am disappointed with that. I know from the training I have done that I am capable of a quicker time. I will be doing another race next week and then I have the Nationals so I hope to run faster there"

Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) finished seventh in heat two of the women's 100m. Foster recorded a time of 11.58 which was just outside her seasonal best time of 11.50. The time meant that Foster did not qualify for the semi-finals, only missing out on qualification by .05.