Marcus Lawler played a significant part in today’s superb performance by the Irish men’s 4 x 100 relay team that secured qualification for tonights European championship final. The Irish men were in heat 2, with Marcus on the 3rd leg, the team finished in 4th place, 39.13, to secure the fastest non-automatic qualifying place. The team was Bori Akinola, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus and Israel Olatunde, with Marcus clocking a 9.43 split.
In what was an yet another historic day for Irish athletics the women’s 4 x 100 relay team have also qualified for tonight’s final as indeed have Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan for the 1500 final, taking place tomorrow (Sunday).
Update: In the final of the 4 x 100 Marcus was once again on the 3rd leg with the same quartet that had secured qualification for the final, of Bori Akinola, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus and Israel Olatunde. An error in the first changeover unfortunately scuppered their chances and the team placed 7th in 40.26. Still an Irish men’s 100 relay team making the European final was a brilliant achievement.
It was another superb night in Birmingham for Irish athletics with Kate O’Connor winning magnificent Gold in the heptathlon and Andrew Coscoran winning 1500 bronze for Team Ireland.