Latest: Euro Indoor Championships

By Thomas Chamney in Gothenburg

Both Irish competitors progressed beyond their respective qualifying rounds at this morning's session.

First up was Wicklow's finest, Fionnuala Britton, tackling the women's 3,000m heats.

Sitting midpack throughout the early portion of the race, she elegantly moved her way closer to the front of proceedings after halfway as Sara Moreira of Portugal wound up the pace.

Moreira's injection split the field apart and five athletes broke clear.

Britton never looked stressed as she sat in third place. She could even afford to glance around two laps from the finish to check her positioning, such was her ease.

Running in full knowledge that she was safely in an automatic qualifying position and no threat emanating from behind, Britton began to shut her engines down on the last lap, stopping the clock at 9:03.30 for third place.

Her final will call for a marked increase in effort for sure, but she certainly used very little of her reserves this morning.

The final will take place tomorrow morning.

Amy Foster was the second Irishwoman in action in the 60m. Given a tough lane draw with Norwegian medal hope Ezinne Okparaebo nestled on her outside in the starting positions, Foster got a solid start before the Norwegian began to accelerate away from her.

The City of Lisburn athlete kept her form together well out of the drive phase and crossed the line 5th, matching her personal best of 7.33.

Okparaebo notched a new national record of 7.13 to win the heat.

Foster was then forced to endure an anxious wait to see if her time would be good enough to claim one of the four fastest loser spots on offer.

Thankfully it was but she will have it all to do to make it beyond tomorrow's semi-finals. No matter what happens in those semi-finals, she has produced her best at the championships and as such, anything from here would be a massive bonus.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the race she said: "I know there's a lot to improve on. If I can get it all right I can go quicker and possibly get an Irish record in there.

"My start wasn't awful but it can be much sharper. I have definitely plenty to bring tomorrow."

The final will be at 3:30pm tomorrow.

Ciaran O'Lionaird is through to the final of the 3,000m this evening.

Ciara Everard and Rose-Anne Galligan won their respective heats in the 800 metres ahead of semi-finals today.

SATURDAY

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

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