Barr and English get timely boost for Euros

It was a notable weekend for Irish athletics with Thomas Barr and Mark English enjoying the perfect build-up to the European Championships with some stunning displays.

Barr (Ferrybank) was in stunning form when setting an Irish 400m hurdles record of 48.90 in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday to place him top of the European rankings.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” said Barr of his sub 49 second performance edging him into world class territory and improved upon his Irish record of 49.61 which he set two weeks ago in Belgium.

“I knew I was in shape to go fast and this performance opens doors for me now to get into bigger meets.”

English (UCD) enhanced his reputation considerably at the Diamond League in New York taking some notable scalps to finish second in 1:45.03 behind Olympic champion David Rudisha’s 1:44.63.

“I’m very pleased,” said English. “I’m improving race to race this season and it’s not often you finish five metres behind the man (Rudisha) himself.

“I got a good few scalps as well today. And for me that’s what it was really about” continued English who beat leading European contenders Marcin Lewandowski and Adam Ksczcot of Poland.

English is looking for a new coach and is in discussions, set up by his agent Nic Bideau of the Melbourne Track Club, with leading Dutch coach Honore Hoedt.

Sarah Lavin (UCD AC) produced a personal best of 13.23 in the 100m hurdles in Geneva to finish third and qualify for the Europeans while Phil Healy (Bandon) also produced a personal best performance of 11.53 in the 100m to qualify.

Brian Gregan (Clonliffe) opened his 400m account with an encouraging 46.06 second display.

Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole) put a turbulent spell behind her with an 8:50.80 personal best in a mixed 3,000m race at the GV Ryan Irish Milers Club meet in Ringsend, Dublin on Saturday and she will run the 5,000m at the European Team Championships in Estonia next weekend. “I’m happy with that,” said Britton who had just returned from altitude training in Font Romeu in the French Pyrénées.