Phil Healy clocks fastest time in storming into European Indoor semi-finals

But for a slight ease up, the Bandon sprinter would have broken her 51.99 PB but she keeps fuel in the tank for Friday evening's semi-finals, at 6.33pm, which could well see that mark beaten

Phil Healy after winning her heat of the Women's 400m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Torun, Poland. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Phil Healy came within one-hundredth of a second of her 400m personal best as she burst into the European Indoor Championship semi-finals, with Nadia Power also advancing in the 800m.

Paired in a heat with reigning champion Lea Sprunger, Healy led the field around to finish in a time of exactly 52 seconds, with the Swiss athlete trailing after Healy for the second automatic qualification spot.