Final agony for Irish pair

There was no joy for Ireland’s two finalists at the European track and field championships in Helsinki yesterday as Brian Gregan, hit by a groin spasm 80m into the men’s 400m final, faded in the closing stages of the race and Jessie Barr, trying out a new stride pattern, never got into a striking position in the women’s 400m hurdles final.

The men’s 400m gold medal went to the pre-race favourite Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic, who won in 45.24 secs from hungarian Marcell Deak-Nagy 45.52, but it was only a few strides from the line that Gregan (46.04), in the bronze medal position, faded and was overtaken by Yannick Fonsat of France, 45.82.

“I was okay going into the race but 80 metres in my groin went into spasm,” he said. “I just gritted my teeth and went for it. I could have medalled out there”

It will be this morning before a decision is made on whether or not he will take any part in the men’s 4x400m relay.

After two superb races to qualify for yesterday’s final, Barr never got into contention in the 400m hurdles final. With the disadvantage of a lane two draw it was always going to be difficult for the 23-year-old Ferrybank athlete but, this time, she had lost the fluency of the heat and semi-final and ended up last in 56.83.

Victory went to Irina Davydova of Russia (53.77), from Czech Denisa Rosolova (54.24) and Anna Yaroshchuk of Ukraine (54.35).

“I tried to do something new stride-pattern wise and it didn’t work,” she said. “The second half of the race was a struggle.”

Throughout the week the bends on the newly laid track at the old Olympic Stadium have been causing havoc with as many as three athletes being disqualified in one race.

Ireland’s Joanne Cuddihy fell victim in her women’s 400m first round heat and yesterday morning Steven Colvert was disqualified in the 200m heat.

However, Paul Hession benefited from the problem last night when he qualified for today’s final of the 200m after Likourgos-Stevanos Tsakonas of Greece, who won their semi-final, was disqualified for stepping out of his lane.

With the athletes ahead of him promoted, Hession, who was just pipped in the rush for the minor placings, was given fourth place and his time, 20.84 secs was good enough to qualify him as one of the two fastest losers.

“I’m not happy with the way I raced out there. I’m finding the bends very difficult. I lost a lot of ground coming into the straight and then I tightened up a lot in the end. It’s a pity I couldn’t have hung on for what would have been second place. I would have got a middle lane and I’d be in with a really good shot at it. But I’m in the final.”

Earlier in the day he finished second to Tsakonas in his heat in 20.75.