McMahon survives obstruction and heavy downpour to make semis

A morning of rain contributed to possibly the most eventful race of Christine McMahon’s career.

But she survived it to qualify for tomorrow’s 400m hurdles semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich.

The two athletes either side of the Glengormley runner succumbed in a race that saw only four finishers, with the day's heavy rain playing a part.

First, Dane Sara Petersen was disqualified for a false start. Then, with McMahon battling with Ukrainian Hanna Ryzhykova for the third and final automatic qualifying place for tomorrow’s semis, Ryzhykova slipped on the sodden track head first just before the final hurdle, allowing McMahon through to qualify in third position.

To add insult to definite injury, Ryzhykova was later disqualified herself for obstructing McMahon.

Fresh from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, McMahon related the carnage going on around her.

“Well, we had a false start and a girl falling over a hurdle into my lane. One of them you might expect but not so many in one race!

“With hurdles you’re trained to expect things to go wrong.

“I saw her stutter but people normally do at that stage of the race and normally keep it together, but unfortunately she didn’t today.

“She fell into my lane when she hit into the hurdle but thankfully there was enough left in the legs to allow me to swerve around and get to the line myself. I hope she hasn’t hurt herself too badly.”

The first of the titles on the road was also decided this morning with Spain’s Miguel Ángel Lopez winning a tight finish in the men’s 20k walk ahead of Russian pair Aleksandr Ivanov and Denis Strelkov in second and third respectively, with Ukraine’s Ruslan Dmytrenko fourth.

Only one second covered the leading four.

Tonight, there are five Irish athletes in semi-final action in the evening session.

Thomas Barr kicks it all off with the semis of the men’s 400m hurdles at 5pm Irish time, followed by Amy Foster’s 100m semi at 5.15pm where she lines up alongside ace French sprinter Myriam Soumaré and Norwegian Ezinne Okparaebo.

The 400m semi-finals feature debutant Richard Morrissey at 6pm, up against Britain’s Martyn Rooney, with Brian Gregan paired with Israel’s Donald Sanford and Belgian Jonathan Borlée immediately after.

Mark English is looking to progress to the 800m final when he lines up in his semi-final at 8.08pm alongside Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of France, who has run an impressive 1:42.53 this season.