Ferrybank athlete Thomas Barr competing for Ireland in the European Championships in Helsinki in 2012. The Waterford athlete broke Tom McGuirk’s 18 year-old 400m hurdles record last weekend and attained the ‘A’ standard for this year’s European Championships in Zurich.
On Saturday he competed in Oordgem, also in Belgium and in a top class field he finished third in the 400m hurdles in 49.61 breaking the Irish national record of 49.73 set in 1996 by Tom McGuirk. This time was also well inside the ‘A’ standard of 50.15 for the European Championships in Zurich in August.
Kelly Proper chasing a standard in the 200 metres had two races in Belgium last week over the distance. In Namur on Wednesday Kelly won the 200 metres, just inside the ‘B’ standard of 23.65 while the A standard is 23.35.
On Thursday, competing in St Nicholas in Belgium she finished third in the long jump with a leap of 6.17 metres. In Oordegem on Saturday Kelly finished third in the 200 metres in 23.67 while Niamh Whelan was third in the 100 metres in 12.07 and seventh in the 200 metres in 24.28.
Ben Kiely also ran in Oordegem in a graded 400 metres hurdle race and he finished seventh in 53.98.
At the Irish Milers Club 800 metres in Tullamore on Saturday David McCarthy was second in 1.50.95 while James Ledingham finished fourth in 1.52.40 both West Waterford AC.
