Brian Gregan’s qualification for the semi-finals of the 400 metres proved the high point of an otherwise difficult start for the Irish athletes in Moscow over the weekend.
The 23-year-old Dubliner will need to run significantly faster than the 46.04 seconds he clocked to reach the final “After four rough weeks with injury, I’ve made the semi-finals of the World Championships,” said Gregan, and he clearly wasn’t at his best. “Hopefully now I can go out a run a lot quicker in the semi-finals, and see where that leaves me.”
Both Mark English and Paul Robinson were making their senior championship debuts in the 800 metres and while qualifying for their semi-finals was always going to be tough, English was particularly disappointed to have fallen short, despite a storming finish, his 1:47.08 left him in fourth.
“I’m gutted,” said the 20-year-old English. “Maybe I left it a little too late but there are positives to take away too. I finished well, felt super down the home straight and it has been a good experience for me.”
In the women’s 400m Jen Carey ran well- her 52.62 seconds just shy of her best of 52.29 but wasn’t enough to progress to the next round. She moved up to fifth after an athlete ahead of her was disqualified.
