Relieved Barr lifts it again to get job done in Rome, Tuthill through in hammer

Barr admitted it was hard to come down from the high of Friday night’s mixed relay gold medal.

Ireland’s Tom Barr after his Men’s 400m Hurdles Heat. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Thomas Barr kept the good times rolling for the Irish at the European Championships in Rome today, the Waterford athlete powering to victory in his heat of the 400m hurdles in a season’s best of 49.31.

Barr had plenty of work to do as he rounded the final turn in third, but he produced his trademark finishing burst over the final two barriers to hit the front metres before the line, with Vit Muller of Czech Republic next best with 49.38. Barr’s 49.31 was the quickest time in the qualifying heats, though the top-12 ranked athletes were missing as they have a bye to tomorrow afternoon’s semi-finals. He will almost certainly need a sub-49 second time there to advance to the final.