Barr powers to new national record

THOMAS BARR (Ferrybank AC) set a new national junior record at 51.29 secs when winning his heat of the men’s 400m hurdles at the European junior track and field championships in Tallinn yesterday.

The 18-year-old Waterford lad was emulating his sister, Jessie, who set a new national U23 record when finishing fifth in the final of the women’s 400m hurdles at last week’s European U23 championships.

Joanna Mills (Ballymena and Antrim) finished just outside the medals in the women’s 400m final. Mills, the Irish schools champion in both the 400m and the long jump, took fourth in 54.35.