By Paul Gallagher
Ireland’s Karen Shinkins won her heat with a gutsy performance in second heat of the women’s 400 metres as the 27th European Indoor Championships got underway in Vienna today.
Shinkins, one of Ireland’s medal hopefuls, won in 51.90 seconds to pip Catherine Murphy of Britain who was a close second in 51.95. And because only 10 competitors declared, the race was effectively a semi-final. Natalya Antyukh of Russia won the other heat in 51.39 seconds.
Tomas Coman, another of the athletes in the Irish team who hopes to challenge for a medal, got his championships off to the perfect start with a new Irish record (46.49 seconds) in his 400 metres heat. David McCarthy will join Coman in the semi-finals after finishing second in his heat (47.07) but Rob Daly failed to progress, clocking a disappointing 47.75.
Peter Coghlan finished third in heat three of the men’s 60 metre hurdles and qualified as the first fastest loser (7.72) and will line-up in the semi-finals alongside two-time indoor champion Colin Jackson. The Welshman clocked the fastest time of the heats, winning heat four in 7.55 seconds.
Earlier, Sarah Reilly qualified in second place in the first heat of the women’s 200 metres racing in a time of 23.72 seconds but despite running marginally quicker in the semi-final, the Irish national record holder (23.09) finished last.
Ciara Sheehy, the second Irish runner in the 200 metres, also came unstuck in the semis but will be pleased with a personal best of 23.34 seconds in the heats.
Elsewhere, Deirdre Ryan equalled her best in the women’s high jump, clearing the opening height of 1.79 metres before going on to clear 1.84. Ryan was unable to clear 1.89 metres.
There was disappointment for two Irish runners in the men’s 200 metres. Gary Ryan ran a season best 21.34 seconds but failed to qualify while Tom Comyns was well off the pace finishing in 21.73.
James Nolan runs in the heats of the 1500 metres later this evening.