Loughnane sixth as Sokolova smashes European record

THERE was drama at the end of a sensational women’s 10,000m walk at the European junior championships in Kaunus yesterday when Yelena Ladanova of Russia, after finishing streets ahead of everyone, discovered she had been disqualified.

She had smashed the European record but the mark was still broken by her compatriot, Vera Sokolova, who set a new European junior and championship best at 43 mins 11.34 secs to claim her place in the history books.

Another Russian, Olga Mikhaylova, claimed the silver medal with a personal best of 45:31.49 and there was also a career best time for the bronze medallist, Martina Gabrielli of Italy, who finished third in 46:38.53.

There was a personal best and new national record too for Ireland’s Anne Loughnane, who turned in the performance of her career to finish sixth in 48:21.71. Sister of Olympian, Olive Loughnane, she was a silver medallist at the world youth championships two years ago.

Ireland also had a big performance from the Kilkenny man, Eoin Everard, who qualified for today’s semi-finals of the 800m when he finished fifth in his heat in 1:51.63. The heat was won by Paulo Zanchi of Italy in 1:50.22 and the Irish schools champion ended up the ninth fastest of the qualifiers.

In today’s semi-final he is drawn against two British runners, Richard Hill and Michael Rimmer, and the line-up also includes Josef Repcik of Slovakia, Lukas Rifesser of Italy, David Takacs of Hungary, Vitalij Gorbunor of Lithuania and Merlin Rose of Germany.

In the men’s 10,000m, Ritchie Yeates recovered from a mid-race crisis to come home in 9th position in 32:01.64 behind the impressive winner, Mjugdat Ozturk from Turkey, who took the gold medal in 30:10.60.

Louise Kiernan finished sixth in her heat of the women’s 100m in 12.25 secs.

Danny Darcy goes in the first heat of the men’s 1,500m today, drawn alongside such notables as Voladymyr Kyts (Ukraine), Victor Montaner (Spain) and two Frenchmen, Gauthier Oddo and Victor Gros.

Colin Costello has two Spaniards with him in Heat 2, Alvaro Rodriguez and Luis Alberto Marios.