Irish hopes of a medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships now rest entirely on the shoulders of Karen Shinkins after a disappointing performance by James Nolan in the final of the 1500 metres.
Nolan, a silver medalist in Ghent two years ago, had expected to challenge for a place on the podium in today’s final but could only manage sixth with a time of 3:50.84.
Nolan had gone into the final lap of a slow race in third position, sitting pretty on the shoulders of the leaders. However, when the pace quickened Nolan was unable to respond and slipped out of contention. Rui Silva of Portugal took the gold medal from Spain’s Juan Higuero in second. Briton Michael East claimed the bronze.
There was better news for Tomas Coman in the 400 metres who recorded a new Irish record, his second in two days, in the semi-finals. Coman clocked 46.34 seconds but was slightly adrift of a spot in the final.
David McCarthy, a junior athlete brimming with potential, continued his steep learning curve in the 400 metres with another excellent run. The 18-year-old ran 46.86 but will also miss out on tomorrow’s final.
Derval O’Rourke will also be pleased with her efforts in Vienna having recorded a new Irish record in the women’s 60 metres hurdles. O’Rourke’s time of 8.22 was good enough for fourth in her heat but not a place in the final.
Mark Howard’s European Indoor Championships campaign earlier proved a brief affair after the Irishman finished seventh in his 60 metres heat.
Running in the first heat, Howard clocked 6.83 seconds, 0.2 of a second behind winner Jason Gardener (6.61) of Britain. Gardener's teammate Mark Lewis-Francis went quickest in the heats with a time of 6.57 seconds.
Shinkins, now the only Irish athlete still in with a chance of a medal, runs in the 400 metres final tomorrow.