Irish title dreams end early in Valencia

IRELAND’S minute involvement in the world indoor championships at Valencia was short-lived as the two representatives, sprinter Ailish McSweeney and 1,500m runner James Nolan, bowed out opening day.

With all the leading hopes, including the defending 60m hurdles champion, Derval O’Rourke, absent it was always going to be difficult to make any impression. Ailish McSweeney, however, had a promising start to her campaign when she gained automatic qualification for last evening’s semi-finals.

The Leevale athlete had the fastest reaction time in her heat and finished fourth in a time of 7.43secs and her placing got her through to the semi-finals among the automatic qualifiers.