Irish U-18s hit ground running

ATHLETICS

WHILE Sophie O’Sullivan – the daughter of Sonia O’Sullivan – got the Irish team at the European

U-18 Championships in Gyor, Hungary, off to a perfect start by winning her 800m heat, Patience Jumbo-Gula also hit the ground running by powering into the girls’

100m final.

The St Gerard’s Dundalk sprinter clocked a championship record of 11.59 to win her semi-final. Jumbo-Gula will contest the 100m final at 7.09pm Irish time tonight, with live coverage on Eurosport.

“My start was way better than my heat, I came out hard and was diving for

30metressoIjusttoldmyselftorelax and run through the line,” said JumboGula (pictured). “Everything is coming together.” Elsewhere, there was disappointment for medal hope Cian McPhillips in the 1,500m, the Longford teenager losing one of his shoes halfway through the race and coming home 14th in his heat in 4:10.84.

At the Lausanne Diamond League last night, the Irish 4x100m team of Lauren Roy, Phil Healy, Niamh Whelan and Sophie Murphy finished eighth in

45.64, a race won by Switzerland in a national record of 42.29.

CATHAL DENNEHY