Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) has advanced to the 1500m final on the first evening session at the European Championships in Munich after qualifying from this evening’s semi-final.
Andrew Coscoran advances to final
Coscoran finished seventh in his heat in a time of 3.38.74 to book his place in Thursday’s final. The Balbriggan man finished as one of the four fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
Job done for Andrew Coscoran in the second of the 1500m semi-finals
Coscoran will return for Thursday's final thanks to his 7th place finish in 3:38.74
Another race with plenty of jostling for position from the bell
Result: https://t.co/BV3HnCNnph#Munich2022 pic.twitter.com/LByiPc4fz5
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 15, 2022
The race was difficult for Coscoran as he got boxed in with about 600m to go but eventually managed to get himself off the curb in the final 250m.
It has been a good season for the 26-year-old who made the semi-final at the World Championships in Eugene.
Michał Rozmys (Poland) won the heat in a time of 3.37.36 and makes the final as the fastest qualifier.
There was disappointment for Luke McCann (UCD AC) in his heat of the event. McCann positioned himself well but got caught in some interference heading into the last lap and then didn’t have the legs in the home straight.
He crossed the line in 3.40.98 to finish ninth in the race, which was won by Jacob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) in 3.38.48. Ingebrigtsen, who won a silver at last month’s World Championships, is the pre-championships favourite to take gold.
Two other Irish athletes were in action in the opening evening session. Phil Healy (Bandon AC) and Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) both competed in the 400m heats.
Healy was left bitterly disappointed after finishing sixth in her heat clocking 53.10s. The Cork woman said afterwards that it was her worst race of the year.
It appeared that Healy was running strongly up until the final 80m where she began to struggle and faded badly.
Mawdsley had received a late call up to run the individual 400m after Sophie Becker opted to focus solely on the relay last week. She ran a good race to finish sixth in a time of 52.63s, just 0.1s off automatic qualification to the semi-finals.
Mawdsley ran an aggressive first 200m and battled well up the home straight but ultimately couldn’t find the extra gear required to advance.
Both Healy and Mawdsley will be back in action later in the week.
Several Irish athletes are in action in the first session of action tomorrow.
Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) competes in the Men’s 35km Walk at 7:30am.
Sarah Healy (UCD AC) and Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC) both race in the semi-finals of the women’s 1500m at 9:15am and 9:27am respectively.
Two Irish athletes will also be looking to make 400m finals. Chris O’Donnell (North Sligo AC) races in the men’s semi-final at 11:25am. O’Donnell will need to get close to his PB of 45.26s or possibly faster to advance.
Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) goes in the women’s semi-final at 12:16pm. Adeleke is the Irish record holder in the event and will fancy her chances of making the final despite the long season she has had.
The European Athletics Championships are live on RTÉ and BBC.
