Updated 16.00
IRELAND’S PAUL ROBINSON was part of a thrilling finish to today’s 1500 metre final at the European Championships, but ultimately could not force his way into the medals.
The second Irishman in the field Ciarán Ó Lionáird appeared well-placed at the halfway point, but once his ankles were clipped by Spaniard David Bustos, the race opened up with the chaos of Ó Lionáird tumbling as his competitors tried to avoid him.
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad – who was disqualified from the 3,000 metre steeplechase on Thursday for removing his singlet -powered out into an insurmountable lead and claimed gold.
After a second runner fell, Robinson appeared to be gaining ground from seventh place and picking up speed on the last bend. However, in the final stretch Britain’s Chris O’Hare pipped him to bronze while Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen held on for silver.
There was soon another commendable Irish performance to applaud on the track as the men’s 4 x 400 team posted a new national record of 3:01.47.
The team of Mark English, Thomas Barr, Richard Morrissey and Brian Gregan ( with Craig Lynch and Brian Murphy in reserve) finished in fifth place with Team GB claiming gold ahead of Russia and Poland.
In the men’s Marathon this morning, Sean Hehir was the best of the Irish, coming home in 2;17.59 – six minutes off winner Daniele Meucci.
Kevin Seaward finished in 2:20.30, good enough for 28th place while Thomas Frazer was 35th in a time of 2:22.33. And those results gave Ireland a placing of seventh in the team rankings.
