Thomas Barr and Michelle Finn secure automatic Olympic qualification

Waterford's Barr clocks seasonal best in 400m hurdles while Cork star Finn clocks new personal best in 300m steeplechase

Leeavale athlete Michelle Finn took nine seconds off her personal best in the 3,000m steeplechase in Finland. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Thomas Barr and Michelle Finn turned in two stunning performances at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, this evening, with both securing automatic qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.

Barr clocked a huge season’s best of 48.39 to beat Estonia’s Rasmus Magi, his fastest ever time outside a championship and his quickest since winning a European bronze medal in 2018.