Waterford athlete through to long jump final in style

Waterford’s Kelly Proper smashed the Irish record this morning as she qualified for the final of the Long Jump at the European Indoor Championships in Turin today.

The Ferrybank athlete had a jump of 6.59m in this morning's qualifying round, breaking her previous Irish record of 6.44m.

She will compete in tomorrow’s final at 3.40pm.

Defending European Indoor 400m champion David Gillick cruised in to the semi-finals this morning after a comfortable run in the heats.

The Dundrum runner came home first in a time of 47.10 and will race in the semi-final at 5.05pm this evening.

In the women’s 400m both Bronagh Furlong and Marian Andrews qualified for this afternoon’s semi finals at 4.45pm. Furlong finished second in her heat in a time of 53.84, while Andrews qualified as faster runner-up in a time 53.94.

Earlier today Derval O’Rourke made it comfortably through her heat of the 60m Hurdles.

She qualified first from her heat in a time of 8.06, which was third fastest overall.

O’Rourke will take part in the semi-finals later today at 2:45pm.