Sarah Lavin booked her place in the semi-finals of the women's 100m hurdles, coming home second in her heat this morning.
With the top three in each heat progressing, Lavin produced a time of 12.67 seconds to finish behind world champion Danielle Williams, who clocked 12.59. Switzerland's Ditaji Kambundji was third in 12.81.
It was a strong showing from Lavin, currently ranked 17th in the world, to finish ahead of Kambundji, the European silver medallist, and world number six.
'Feeling good, that's the really scary round'
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 7, 2024
- Sarah Lavin talks to RTÉ Sport following her 100m hurdles heat#RTESport #Paris2024
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"I'm feeling good, that's the really scary round and to have that one under the belt feels great," she told RTÉ Sport after the race.
"I definitely need to be far more aggressive all the rest of the next round but I’m in the mix, all you could get this morning was the big Q [qualification] and I have that.
"I 100% think that’s the scariest round and the next one is the most difficult because so many girls are capable of making that top eight and you need to be clean, but also just go for it.
"I think the brave will be rewarded - that's a pretty scary thing to do in a heat when all that’s up for offer is a Q, yet you know if you get the Q you get the day off tomorrow.
"I do need to be a lot more aggressive and keep myself a lot tighter over the hurdles but yeah, job done."
The three semi-finals will take place on Friday, beginning from 11.05am.
For Lavin, she will use the rest of today to relax before beginning her preparations for the semi-final.
She said: "I won't chill out tomorrow but maybe today, I might get a coffee or something.
"But that’s what was up for grabs today, I can relax today we have that big Q. You can’t run the race until it’s time to run the race so to have that opportunity tomorrow to optimise that is great."
Mark English put in a storming run to progress in the 800m, just edged out for first spot by France's Gabriel Tual.
In a competitive second heat, English occupied third for most of the first lap, and managed to maintain that placing before the final bend.
A strong final 100m saw the Letterkenny native eventually engaged in a battle to win the heat with Tual.
At the finishing line it looked as they both crossed together, with the big screen revealing a photo finish.
However, it was the Frenchman who just edged it in a time of 1:45.13, with English's time confirmed as 1:45.15. Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana finished third in 1:45.58.
"Very happy with that, I think I was ranked sixth going into that so it's brilliant to get the qualification and on we go to the semi-final. I knew I had to be in contention throughout the race so thankfully that tactic paid off," English said following the race.
'I've never doubted myself.... I'm in good shape. Now it's about producing my best race in the semi-final now as well'
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 7, 2024
Mark English is confident following his superb 800m heat performance#RTESport #Paris2024
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The first three in each heat progress to Friday's semi-finals, with a repechage round taking place tomorrow.
English, however, won't have to worry about the repechage and can now focus on his semi-final.
He told RTÉ Sport: "That's actually important because it would be quite difficult I think to come through the repechage and run the semi-final.
"Saying that probably one or two of them will sneak in that way, but delighted with today’s performance.
"I've never doubted myself; I’ve always believed that I can do it. I’ve run PBs over 400, 600 and 800 metres this year so I’m in good shape. It’s going to be about producing my best race now in the semi-finals as well."
In the men's 5000m, Brian Fay did not make it through to the final, finishing 13th in a time of 13:55.35.
Running in mid-division for the first half of the race, the Raheny Shamrock AC clubman did start to feel the heat as the pace quickened after 3000m. However, he did put in a strong final lap.
The first eight in each heat advance to the final.
Fay's heat was won by Jakob Ingebrigstsen, the current world champion over the distance, who surprisingly was out of the medals in the 1500m final on Tuesday evening.
The Norweigan posted a time of 13:51.59, with Biniam Mehary of Ethiopia second in 13:51.82 and Belgium's Isaac Kimeli third in 13:52.18.
With the top three in each heat to advance to the semi-final, Sophie O'Sullivan and Sarah Healy missed out after finishing fourth in their respective repechage races
O'Sullivan's heat was won by Ethiopia's Birke Haylom (4:01.47), who set off at a blistering pace. It was a then a case of the chasing pack hunting for the two remaining qualifying berths. O'Sullivan was always in touch at the head of the pack but over the final 100, she did tire allowing Italy's Ludovica in 4:02.46 and Esther Guerrero in 4:03.15 to finish second and third respectively.
O'Sullivan (below) posted a time of 4:03.73.
"I really thought I could make it there. It's all a bit disappointing, just not having the extra gear," she told RTÉ Sport.
"I’m really proud, you set big goals and it doesn't fall your way so what can you do?
"I probably had four months-ish prep so it’s really great to see that I can still compete when things aren't perfect. "
It was a case of a tightly packed field in the opening lap of Healy's heat, with the Monkstown native leading early on before settling into third place.
However, as the field began to stretch, Healy dropped back a couple of places and despite making up some ground on the final lap, she could not catch those in front, finishing with a time of 4:07.60.
Afterwards, the 23-year-old gave an honest assessment of her Games.
"I just haven't felt like myself out there, it doesn’t feel right," she said.
"I know I’m capable of that [qualifying] and then trying my best, but some things aren't clicking for me right now.
"The last two rounds, it hasn't felt like me out there. It’s not an excuse, I don't know if it’s just the big stage that’s getting to me more than I realise. I feel like I’m handling everything OK beforehand, I just don’t have my normal kick and it’s really frustrating and hard."
The race won by Italy's Sintayehu Vissa in 4:06.71, just ahead of Great Britain's Reeve Nolan-Walcott, who clocked 4:06.73, with Agueda Marques of Spain third in 4:07.75.
