Gidey narrowly misses medal at European Running Championships

FOURTH PLACE: Efrem Gidey was left to ponder what might have been after a frustrating fourth-place finish in the half marathon at the inaugural European Running Championships in Belgium this morning. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

It was one of the best performances of his career, but in the end Efrem Gidey was left to ponder what might have been after a frustrating fourth-place finish in the half marathon at the inaugural European Running Championships in Belgium this morning.

The 24-year-old came up just one second shy of winning Ireland’s first ever road-running medal at European level, clocking 1:01:55 and getting outkicked in a sprint finish by France’s Valentin Gondouin. Gold went to France’s Jimmy Gressier in 59:45, with Norway’s Awet Nftalem Kibrab of Norway second in 1:01:08.