Shinkins and Turnbull battle way to semi-finals

KAREN SHINKINS, whose season turned around in recent weeks, took another major step back to form yesterday when she made it through to this evening’s semi-finals of the women’s 400.

She is one of two Irish semi-finalists on this evening’s programme along with Gareth Turnbull who made it through Saturday evening’s first round of the men’s 1,500m and while both got through amongst the fastest losers they deserve their chance.

While Gillian O’Sullivan celebrated her silver medal yesterday Karen crept quietly through the mayhem in the mixed zone, stopping to congratulate her team mate to enjoy a celebration on her own in a quiet corner.

She had just run a season best 52.06 seconds for fifth place behind one of the medal favourites, Ana Guevara of Mexico in the first heat of the women’s 400m. It was good enough to see her through to the semi-final well placed among the nine fastest losers.

And, for the woman who holds the Irish record at 51.07 and was a bronze medallist at the European indoor championships not so long ago, it was far enough ahead of her previous form this season to give her hope of a revival of fortune.

“Compared to what I am capable of it is a little so-so but I have to look at it in the way the season is going and keep it in perspective,” she said.

“I am glad to get another shot at it because I felt so comfortable out there. I feel like there’s another gear in me so I hope I can improve,” she said.

The 23-year-old Russian, Svetlana Pospelova, back from a doping suspension, joins the leading qualifiers after finishing second to Lorraine Fenton of Jamaica in their heat. Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal is the fastest qualifier at 50.86 while Sanya Richards is the leading American beside Pospelova.

With just four athletes to be eliminated from three heats following the late withdrawal of one of the medal favourites, Bernard Lagat, the heats of the men’s 1,500m were always going to interesting.

Hicham El Guerrouj, the defending champion, ran one of the slowest races of his career ­ 3:42.24 ­ to win his heat while Adrian Blincoe outsprinted one of two Frenchmen, Mehdi Baala, in the opening heat with both timed at 3:47.26. Then Gareth Turnbull led until the bell in the final heat which was won by Rui Silva of Portugal in 3:41.35. Caught up in all kinds of traffic Turnbull ended up seventh in 3:41.84 but that was way faster than any of the other fastest losers.

Derval O’Rourke runs in the quarter finals of the 100m hurdles this evening despite the ankle injury which she sustained crossing the line in the final at the European U23 championships when she set a new Irish record at 12.96.

That is an A standard for next year’s Olympic Games and the reason why she opted to come here.

“In terms of her future career ­ and particularly next year’s Olympic Games ­ it was very important she compete in Paris and go through all the procedures of a major championships,” her coach Jim Kilty said.

Paul McKee was eliminated from the men’s 400m on Saturday evening after finishing seventh in his heat in a disappointing time of 46.43 but said he had been struggling to find his form all year and this was reflected in his times.

Marie Davenport was forced to withdraw from the final of the women’s 10,000 on doctor’s orders after spending the day in bed with a temperature of 104 degrees.

* Irish athletes in action today 7.30pm: Women’s 400m semi-finals Karen Shinkins 7.50pm: Men’s 1,500m semi-finals Gareth Turnbull 8.15pm: Women’s 100m hurdles quarter finals Derval O’Rourke.