Irish results on Day 1 of the European Championships...Wed 27th June 2012

These are the results of the Irish athletes on day 1 of the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki....

Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) was the first Irish athlete in action at the 2012 European Track and Field Championships. Amy's time in the 100m was 11.58 seconds, just 8 hundredths of a second slower than her seasons best time of 11.50. Unfortunately, this was too slow and she doesn't progress to the next round.

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) has just qualified from heat #4 in the 400m hurdles with a seasons best time of 50.59. Thomas finished sixth at the 2011 European Juniors and broke the Irish national junior record on no less than three occasions last season and is making his Irish senior debut in Helsinki.

In heat #6 of the the 400m hurdles, Jason Harvey finished in 5th place with a time of 51.83 seconds. This is slower than his seasons best time of 51.67 which he set last May.

Double Para-Olympian Jason Smyth (City of Derry) finished 4th in the second heat of the mens 100m to qualify for the next round. His time was 10.47 seconds, down on his 10.24 set Clermont, Florida in May.  He will now run in the 100m semi-finals at 6.20pm Irish time.

Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) wins the first heat in the mens 400m in a new personal best time of 45.63 seconds. This is an improvement on his previous best time of 45.91. (Update....some of the winners of other heats have been disqualified. Brian has the fastest time from the heats).......Post race interview....."I'm really happy that I managed to get a PB on this tough track. Now I'm just going to relax and chill out before trhe next round."

Jessie Barr (Ferrybank AC), sister of Thomas finished 3rd in the second heat of the women’s 400m hurdles in a time of 56.30. Her PB is 56.16 which was set last May and had moved her to third on the Irish all time lists.

Joanne Cuddidy is disqualified after it looked like she had qualified in 3rd place in her heat (52.20).
From Athletics Ireland...."Joanne Cuddihy is unfortunately disqualified after stepping out of her lane in heat 4 of the women's 400m. Team management and Joanne viewed the tape which showed she clearly stepped inside lane four. Joanne accepted the decision but is understandable devastated. If it wasn't for the stumble Cuddihy believed she could of won the heat. She will now turn her intentions to the relay for redemption."

Jason Smyth bows out in the men 100m semi-final with a time of 10.52 seconds, slightly slower than his 10.47 earlier in the day. The slowest qualifier was 10.30 seconds while Jason Smyth's personal best time for 100m is 10.22 seconds which he set last May.

So that's the end of the first day of the European Track and Field Championships. From an Irish point of view, it was a day of mixed fortunes. Jason Smyth bowed out in the 100m semi-final even though on paper at least, he was fast enough to make the final. Joanne Cuddihy was disqualified in her heat of the 400m when she put her foot out of lane. Supposedly, the track is built around a football pitch and as a result has some tight corners. Indeed, throughout the day, there was a significant number of athletes disqualified due to lane infringements.

With due respect to St.Finbarr's AC, the term 'Go on the Barr's' has taken one a completely new lease of life with the brother and sister pair of Thomas and Jessie Barr both making it through their heats ;o)

Performance of the day though must go to Brian Gregan who not only won his heat in the mens 400m but also set a PB in the process. As the fastest qualifier in the heats, he must be seen now as a possible medal hope.

More action tomorrow...