Improving Thomas Barr targets final berth in Beijing

Thomas Barr is targeting a final berth in the 400m hurdles at his maiden World Athletics Championships in Beijing at the end of this month.

The Waterford native was one of 11 athletes yesterday selected to represent Ireland at the Chinese capital from August 22-28.

World Universities champion Barr is currently ranked 10th in the world, having lowered his national record to 48.65 at a Diamond League meeting in Rome earlier this summer.