Cuddihy powers into 400 semi-final

JOANNE CUDDIHY qualified for this evening’s women’s 400m semi-finals at the European championships in Gothenburg yesterday when she ran her second fastest time ever at 51.41 secs for second place behind gold medal favourite Olga Zaytseva of Russia, who ran 50.89 secs, in her first round heat.

As a result she will get a prime draw and will line up in lane five in the second of the two semi-finals, renewing her rivalry with Zaytseva in lane three, with fellow Russian, Tatyana Veshkurova, winner of the fourth heat yesterday, in lane four.

Cuddihy had the fifth fastest time in yesterday’s heats with Vanya Stambolova of Bulgaria, who won heat two in 50.39 secs, fastest of the qualifiers. The first three in the heats got automatic qualification with the four fastest losers joining them in the semi-finals but Joanne Cuddihy left nothing to chance and promised better to come.