Fantastic Irish 4 x 400 place 5th in Europe

The Irish squad put in a great battling performance in Zurich today to finish a superb 5th place, in yes, another Irish record: 3.01.67. Lead off by Clonliffe`s Brian Gregan he put in a storming leg passing onto 800m bronze medallist Mark English (UCD), then onto Richard Morrissey (Crusaders) who ran superbly to put the Irish back into 6th and challenging for 5th and then another fantastic effort by Tom Barr (Ferrybank) to take Ireland into 5th place in a world class time. That time would have secured 6th place in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Just before the 400 relay there was Irish heartbreak in the 1500 when first off Ciaran O`Lionard (Leevale) was taken down while leading and then Paul Robinson (St. Cocas) was caught yards from the line and had bronze snatched from his grasp!

It was however a most positive Championships from an Irish perspective with National records, final places, battling performances and of course that precious medal. Congratulations to one and all.