Ireland’s Brian Gregan recorded an impressive victory in the first heat of the 400 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, shattering his personal best in the process.
The 22-year-old clocked a winning time of 45.63 seconds, shaving .28 sec of his previous best time set in Salamanca just two weeks ago.
However, the DCU student remains some way of the Olympic A qualifying time of 45.30.
Jason Smyth finished fourth in his heat of the 100m in a time of 10.47.
Smyth, a two-time gold medallist at the Beijing Paralympics, needs to run 10.18 or better before 8 July to secure a place on the starting line at the Olympic Games. He already made history in 2010 as the first Paralympian to compete at the European Athletic Championships.
His semi-final will take place this evening.
Amy Foster was the first of the Irish in action on the opening morning of the championships, but she failed to progress from the heats of the 100m by just 0.05, finishing seventh in 11.58.
There were contrasting fortunes for the two Irishmen in the heats of the 400m hurdles.
Jason Harvey finished fifth in his heat in 51.8, just missing qualification for the semi-finals, but there was better news for Tom Barr who finished second in his heat in a time of 50.59, a season's best, to qualify for the semi-finals on Thursday morning.
Jessie Barr advanced to the semi-finals after finishing third in her heat of the 400m hurdles in 56.30.
Joanne Cuddihy did not enjoy a good day at the office as she was disqualified in the 400m heats.
The Kilkenny City Harriers athlete was found to have stepped outside of her lane.
