Sarah Healy sets up glorious chance to claim first senior medal
FEELING GOOD: Sarah Healy won her 3000m heat at the European Indoor Athletics Championships to qualify for the final. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Foot-perfect across 15 laps, Sarah Healy coasted into the European Indoor 3000m final in a position she’d dearly love to inhabit at the end of tomorrow’s final: first.
The 24-year-old Dubliner eased to victory in this morning’s heats in Apeldoorn, clocking 8:55.35 to tee up a huge medal chance. Having won medals at European U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels in the past, this looks a glorious chance to get on her first senior podium.
But this, of course, is another level, though it’s one in which Healy now looks fully at home.
“It felt really good,” she said. “Heats are nerve-wracking and you’re waiting for someone to do something, we were waiting ages and I was running around like, ‘Just let this end so we know what’s happening.’
“I was probably almost too on (the pace) and clipped the girl who was leading once or twice. I didn’t want to take any chances. Last year in Glasgow I misjudged it and I wasn’t letting that happen again.”
Healy has struggled with the pressure of championships in the past but looks a stronger athlete, mentally and physically, this year.
“My performances have been better, but it’s just a different mindset. To get to the top it’s not just physical, you need the mental skills. It’s still a work in progress but I think I’m improving and it’s showing in my performances.”
Jodie McCann was disappointed with a sub-par showing in her 3000m heat, the Dubliner saying she “just didn’t have it” when the gears shifted mid-race.
“I’m not too sure what happened. I tried hard to latch on to the pace.”
Bori Akinola showed up for his senior individual debut for Ireland wearing Mona Lisa socks, and his subsequent performance in the 60m heats could easily be hung in the Louvre. Akinola got a bullet start, then executed his phases to perfection as he came home second in 6.66 to advance to this evening’s semi-finals.
“It was really good,” said Akinola. “I was looking at the entries and then I was like, ‘OK, I need to forget about that, execute as best I can, and get in the top four. I was kind of confident coming in I’d get through the heats but the major work now is getting into the final, I’ll need to step it up a bit more.”
Andrew Coscoran ran the perfect race in his 3000m heat to advance to tomorrow’s final, clocking 7:56.37 to finish fifth in a tricky race that was loaded with quality, with Jakob Ingebrigtsen taking a facile victory in 7:55.32.
“In the heats you’ve got to run hard to get through but you want to conserve as much energy as possible,” said Coscoran. “With a K to go the plan was to get into a good position and stay on the pace. I’m really looking forward to the final, I’m very confident.
“Jakob has won countless European titles and he’s a strong character so you’ve got to judge your race plan off what he’s going to do. You can predict he’ll go at some point, and when he does make that move it’ll predict the rest of the race. My mindset is good, I’m in a good place, enjoying my running.”
There was no joy, however, for James Gormley, who finished a decent eighth in his heat on his debut for Ireland in 7:53.27, which was not enough to advance.
Paralympic bronze medallist Orla Comerford was the last of the Irish in action during the morning session, the Dubliner competing in a mixed-classification para 60m. She proved a class apart from her rivals, powering to victory in 7.63, just outside her best of 7.62.
“I felt good, felt confident, and there was a great crowd out there so I’m delighted to get the win,” said Comerford, who has been working with coach Daniel Kilgallon since last year.
“When the invite came in from European Athletics I was over the moon, for them to be putting para athletics on this platform is massive.
“This is only my second race since Paris and I’ve been working on a few different pieces and this was a great opportunity to put them into practice. It’s been a good, long winter and I’m really happy to have executed that race well.”
6.10pm: Bori Akinola, men’s 60m semi-finals
7.13pm: Mark English, Cian McPhillips, men’s 800m semi-finals
8.40pm: *Bori Akinola, men’s 60m final *Pending qualification
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