Day 1: European Indoor Athletics

by Thomas Chamney

Derval O'Rourke, Brian Gregan and Ciarán Ó Lionáird got Ireland's European Indoor Athletics challenge underway with easy progression in the 60m hurdles, 400m and 3,000m respectively.

Derval O'Rourke was drawn in a particularly tough heat, with two of the main medal contenders, Eline Bernings and Yannit Nevin, up against her.

The first four across the line were due to progress and it was always going to be on O'Rourke's compass to advance here.

The tension was ratcheted up by the disqualification of Alice Decaux of France for a false start, but the Leevale athlete kept her cool and blasted away from the blocks, attacking the first hurdle with a real sense of venom.

While Yannit passed her over the final few obstacles, it was a most impressive run from O'Rourke and a season's best to boot. Eline Bernings came home third but did not threaten O'Rourke in the slightest. The Leevale woman now goes into the semi-finals with a superb chance of making the final.

Brian Gregan ran with the assurance that comes with being Europe's top man right now over this distance, spouting an exalted confidence from every pore.

He controlled the race from start to finish, accelerating off the break to head the field at the bell. From there he rarely exited third gear but slowed up slightly too much approaching the line as Butrym of Ukraine closed on his outside.

A nervous glance at the clock followed but all was well and Gregan secured himself an optimal lane for his semi-final to come tomorrow with the victory.

Of the other heats, Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic was the only one to truly impress, clocking 46.54 with a fluidity that has marked him out as Gregan's main rival for the gold. Maslak and Gregan will go head to head in the semi-final.

Three brave men donned the green singlet in the 3,000m event with Ciarán Ó Lionárd and Stephen Scullion up in the first semi-final.

O'Lionard proved himself utterly confident here with a fantastic performance and one that has placed him firmly into medal contention. Relentlessly sitting in fourth or fifth place throughout the early stages, when the field began to move with 600m to go Ó Lionárd gracefully extricated himself out of a tight spot and with 180m left let fly with a ferocious burst of speed to head the field into the final bend.

By that stage four men had broken away and the Irishman glanced back confidently, safe in the knowledge that he had this race sewn up. His time of 7:55.12 was the second fastest of all the qualifiers for tomorrow's final.

Further back, Stephen Scullion was fighting his own battle with the clock as he sought to make it to the final as a fastest loser. He gave it everything he had, taking up the lead briefly at one stage as he tried to force the pace on.

In the end it wasn't to be as he faltered backwards, clocking 8:00.78, just slightly off his personal best. It was a brave run from the 24-year-old student and he should take great heart from how he approached these championships.

John Travers ran in the next heat and finished 11th in 8:23.83.

Watch live coverage from European Indoor Athletics on RTÉ.ie all weekend. Highlights of Friday's action are at 8pm tonight on RTÉ Two and there is live coverage on Saturday from 3.25pm and on Sunday from 10.45am and 3.15pm.

Irish Athletes Schedule

FRIDAY

1615 - Pole vault qualifying - Tori Pena
1640 - 800m (3 heats) - Ciara Everard, Rose Anne Galligan
1720 - 60m Hurdles - Derval O'Rourke runs in second s-final
1805 - 1500m (3 heats) - Claire Tarplee
1855 - 60m Hurdles (final) - Derval O'Rourke

SATURDAY

1125 - 3000m (2 heats) - Fionnuala Britton
1235 - 60m (4 heats) - Amy Foster
1510 - Pole Vault Final - Tori Pena
1555 - 400m (2 semi finals) -
1630 - 800m (2 semi finals) - Ciara Everard, Rose Anne Galligan
1645 - 400m semi-final - Brian Gregan
1705 - 1500m final - Claire Tarplee
1710 - 3000m final - Ciaran O'Lionaird, John Travers, Stephen Scullion

SUNDAY

1045 - 800m final - Ciara Everard, Rose Anne Galligan
1100 - 400m final - Brian Gregan
1110 - 3000m final - Fionnuala Britton

1530 - 60m (2 semi finals) - Amy Foster
1715 - 60m final - Amy Foster

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