Ireland secure league one status at European team championships

Ireland have secured league one status at the European team championships finishing seventh overall.

Ireland secure league one status at European team championships

Ireland have secured league one status at the European team championships finishing seventh overall.

Jason Harvey, Dara Kervick, Richard Morrisey and Brian Gregan delivered a stunning relay victory to wrap up the day for the Irish.

“It was something else winning out there” said glory leg runner Gregan. “The lads did all the work and I was up against Belgain Jonathon Borlee, so I gave it everything.”

The men’s team sent the Dublin crowd home happy, having witnessed a new look women’s relay team take third place in their maiden outing.

“People were putting us down from the start saying it would be relegation, but we finished in sixth place yesterday, the highest a team has ever finished on day one” Said Jessie Barr.

Barr led the Irish women home from Sinead Denny, Jennifer Carey and Shaunna Cannon. “This is a new team from the one in the Olympics last year” said Barr.

“We can really develop and become strong” added Barr, her sentiments echoed by Shaunna Cannon “if we work together we can go to European and World Championships and then Rio.”

North Down Hurdler Ben Reynolds was the star interval performer for the Irish, Reynolds PB of 13:70 saw him come third and qualify for next years Commonwealth games.

“I didn’t get started well, but the crowd cheered me, the crowd here was something else” said Reynolds. “The crowd played a big part to all the Irish team.”

Dunleer’s Thomas Cotter took his international bow, taking fourth place in the steeplechase, clocking 8:56:65.

“It was strange runner here, loads of people came from my club to see me in Santry, even my mum and dad! The crowd were so much behind the me and the team, it made me run hard.” said Cotter

A young Irish side saw teenagers Marcus Lawler and Sarah Lavin take their international bow.

Lavin ranked sixth in the 100 meters hurdles and a late call up for Derval O’Rourke clocked a time of 13:45 for fifth.

“I’m very happy with that performance, I was in the A race. The team management ask me to try and perform as best I could, I think I did that. These are top girls to race against them as a junior is a big bonus.

18 year old Marcus Lawler finished seventh overall and was some what disappointed with his performance having been in the mix for gold with only 80 meters of the 200 meters left.

The experience and gunning of European indoor and outdoor champion Pavel Maslak and former European medallist Jonathon Borlee won out, but there is a lot more to come from the Carlow man.

“I’ve seen many cycles of athlete’s and this is a very positive group, they all fed off each other and and it was such a privilege to do this in Dublin.” said team manager Patsy McGonagle.

The Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Sweden were all promoted to the top level of European competition; Bulgaria and Switzerland were relegated to league two.

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