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Sarah Healy, Andrew Coscoran and Bori Akinola progress at European Indoors

Updated / Saturday, 8 Mar 2025 15:59
Sarah Healy looked comfortable in the first heat of the 3000m
Sarah Healy looked comfortable in the first heat of the 3000m

Sarah Healy and Andrew Coscoran have booked their spots in tomorrow's finals in the 3000m at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.

UCD AC athlete Bori Akinola also impressed to reach the 60m sprint semi-finals .

Running in the first of two heats, Healy looked comfortable throughout as the steady pace set by Germany's Lea Meyer eventually split the pack midway through the race.

The leading group of six found themselves well clear heading into the last kilometre, allowing the runners to manage the final few laps to secure the qualification places.

Healy sat comfortably behind the lead runner throughout and as they all eased down along the final straight, it was actually the Dublin native who was first to cross the finishing line.

The final will take place on Sunday afternoon at the Netherlands-hosted championships.

Jodie McCann, however, will not be joining Healy in the decider as she failed to get out of the second heat.

Remarkably, the pace in the second heat appeared even slower than the opening race, however, it burst into life inside the final kilometre and McCann was dropped early, which ruled her out of contention in the deciding laps.

Andrew Coscoran booked his spot in the final in the 3000m, placing fifth in his heat in a time of 7:56.37.

With the first six progressing directly to the final, Coscoran was nestled in fifth spot on the back straight, coming under pressure from those behind.

Andrew Coscoran qualified for the final in the 3000m

However, he found a second wind around the final bend and held off the chasers to advance with a degree of comfort in the end, the heat being won by Norwegian superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

"I'm confident in the final. I rate myself in the final, I'm looking forward to it," said a bullish Coscoran afterwards.

"I'm just to go in, enjoy it and take a crack at a medal. That's all you can do. There's lots of good guys there. If you can enjoy it, generally you'll be in a good place. That's my mindset."

Earlier, James Gormley placed eighth in his 3000m heat, which was won by Britain's George Mills.

The Sheffield-born athlete, making his debut in the Irish singlet, clocked a respectable time of 7:53.27, but missed out on progression in what was a fast heat.

Bori Akinola looked very much at home on his European Indoors debut as he scorched into the 60m sprint semi-finals.

Competing in the final heat, the Balbriggan man enjoyed the perfect start out in lane two and maintained his position through a blistering opening 40 metres.

Akinola, who posted an impressive 6.66secs, had to settle for second spot as he was beaten to the line by Karl Erik Nazaroz from Estonia.

The semi-finals of the 60m takes place this evening at 6.10pm (Irish time).

Orla Comerford eased to victory with a season best in the 60m Para Athletics final.

It's the first time para events have been included in the championships, a men's long jump event also added to the timetable, and Comerford certainly made her mark with a strong start ensuring that the result was never in doubt.

In a mixed classification race, she finished well clear of France’s Marie Ngoussou-Ngouyi who finished in a time of 7.99 with Zara Temmink recording a PB of 8.07 to take third.

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