Tomas Coman smashed the Irish 400metres record with an inspirational performance at the European Indoor Championships in Vienna this evening. Finishing second behind Poland's Mark Plawgo, the fastest European this year, 22-year-old Coman scorched to a terrific time of 46.49 seconds - a huge improvement on his own personal best of 47.33secs. While reigning world junior 400m hurdles gold medallist Plawgo took the race in 46.46, Coman fought off the challenge of Mark Foucasn, from France, to break the 46.66 Irish best set by David McCarthy in Birmingham last weekend.
Eighteen-year-old McCarthy acquitted himself well when finishing second in his race with a time of 47.07 to move into Saturday's semi-final with Czech Jiri Muzik, who won in 46.77. Fellow Irishman Robert Daly, winner of the AAA senior title, was less fortunate finishing fifth in 47.75.
Earlier on a very encouraging day for Irish athletics, James Nolan made it into tomorrow's 1500m final as a fastest loser. The silver medallist two years ago in Ghent, clocked 3mins 40.78. Peter Coghlan progressed to Saturday's 60m final as a fastest loser in a time of 7.72. But in the 200m both contestants failed to progress, with Tom Comyns last in his race in a time of 21.73 and despite running a season's best 21.34, Gary Ryan was also eliminated.
Filed by Shane Murray
