Disappointment for Crowe at Athletics Championships

Ireland’s Mandy Crowe won her 200m heat at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Italy in a personal best time of 24.18s.

But, in an event where eight athletes ran sub-24s, she failed to survive the semi-finals, clocking 24.69s for sixth position in a race won by the USA’s Shalonda Solomon in 23.13s.

The only time the Irish flag has been run up a pole at these championships was when Dublin high jumper Antoine Burke captured a silver medal in 1994. However, there is a strong possibility that walker Anne Loughnane could add to the tally later today.

Loughnane, the younger sister of Athens-bound Olive, has followed in the family tradition of excelling at maintaining unbroken contact with the road. She is expected to be in contention in the women’s 10,000m walk.

She picked up a silver medal at the World Youth Championships in Canada last summer and although she will be on the starting line against women up to two years older than her.

The 17-year-old from Craughwell has every chance of getting on the podium.

Linda Byrne set a national junior record in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase with 10mins 59.34secs, while another personal best went to Danny Darcy, who ran 3mins 47.75secs in the men’s 1,500m.