Britton fades to fourth

Irish hopes of a medal from the European track and field championships in Helsinki were dashed on the final day when leading hope Fionnuala Britton finished fourth in the women’s 10,000m in 32:05.54, over half a minute outside the time which qualified her for the Olympic Games on her debut over the distance.

Victory went to her old sparring partner, Dulce Felix (Portugal), 31:44.75, with 38 year-old Jo Pavey (Britain) winning the race for second in 31:49.04, as the Irish athlete faded in the closing laps after dominating much of the race.

Britton, the European cross-country champion took the lead at 2,000m (6:28.64) and went on to lead the field through halfway in a modest 15:59.

“I was comfortable up to halfway – the first 2k was quite slow really – you have to see what people are doing,” Britton recalled. “It’s a championship race so you have to see what other people are doing.”

Felix tracked her all the way before embarking on a 67 sec lap with eight laps remaining to streak clear of the field and open up a 40 metre gap and she went on to stamp out her superiority with every stride.

Britton, for the first time, lost control of the race and appeared to lose concentration as she dropped back to fifth place before racing through to lead the chase – a move which eventually took its toll as the experienced Paveytook command of the chase.

“She (Felix) put in such a spurt on her own,” Britton recalled. “I thought ‘do I go with her or do I let her go on her own and stay with the group?’ It’s just hard when you are at the front to change pace like that. I needed to be the one to change pace. I should have been the one to do what she did. I got caught out.”

Meanwhile, Paul Hession showed that his season might be about to turn around at precisely the right time despite obvious difficulties with the notorious bends at the old Olympic Stadium, which were compounded when he was handed lane 1 for the final of the men’s 200m.

Hession had one of his best starts in a year and flew it to the crown of the bend until he had to change his stride entering the finishing straight and ended up at the back of the field in 21.17 secs.

“It’s another step towards London,” he said. “I actually think I ran well out there. It’s just so hard from 80m to 100m to keep your momentum. It’s like running into a brick wall.

“I started really well and that’s really encouraging — something I haven’t been doing this season so far. It’s the first time this year I have put back-to-back good starts together. You have to get a good start to set up your race and I’m doing it now. I think I’m beginning to get into good shape. If I get proper conditions I’ll run some decent times.”

Hession’s performance was the only bright patch in an otherwise disappointing penultimate day for the Irish athletes.

Both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams ended up getting disqualified. But disqualification in sprint races was par for the course throughout the championships, with Joanne Cuddihy, in the women’s 400m, and Steven Colvert, in the men’s 200m, getting DQ’d earlier in the week.

Stephanie Reilly finished 12th in the final of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase (9:53.90) while the 1,500m representatives were also well down the field.

Paul Robinson finished ninth in his heat in 3:47.26 and Ciara Mageean (4:07.45) and Orla Drumm (4:19.61) were 12th in their respective semi-finals of the women’s 1,500m.

Mark Kenneally, who will represent Ireland in the men’s marathon in London, was 15th in the men’s 10,000m in 29:10.55 with David Rooney 20th in 29:57.82.

Ben Reynolds withdrew from the men’s 110m hurdles with a pelvis injury.