Eilidh Doyle and Leon Reid through to finals at Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships
University of Bath-based athletes Eilidh Doyle and Leon Reid booked places in their respective finals with impressive performances at the Berlin 2018 European Championships on Wednesday.
Doyle, competing in a record-equalling fifth Europeans, won her 400m hurdles semi-final in 55.16 to qualify as fourth-fastest overall for Friday’s final (7.50pm). She is coached by Brian Doyle at the Sports Training Village.
Biochemistry graduate Kirsten McAslan gained valuable international experience as she raced in the second semi-final, finishing seventh in 57.33.
Reid, coached by James Hillier, was making his debut for Ireland after a protracted transfer of allegiance from Great Britain that was only resolved last Friday.
He hit the ground running, claiming the second automatic qualifying spot in the first semi-final in 20.38 to progress to Thursday’s final (8pm).
Leon Reid finally where he wants to be out on the track running for Ireland pic.twitter.com/UCYgr7x8m2
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 8, 2018
In the European Swimming Championships in Glasgow, there was disappointment for British Swimming National Centre Bath’s Siobhan-Marie O’Connor as she was edged into fourth in the 200m individual medley final.
She was in the thick of a four-way battle for medals throughout the race and there was just seven-tenths of a second between the leading pack as they touched the wall, with O’Connor narrowly missing out on the podium in 2:10.85. Gold went to Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who became the first woman to win five successive European titles.
O’Connor, coached by Dave McNulty, will hope to finish the championships on a high note as part of the GB women’s 4x100m medley relay team that has qualified for Thursday’s final (6.07pm).
Fellow National Centre Bath swimmer James Guy will also contest the 100m butterfly final on Thursday (5pm) after qualifying fifth-fastest in 51.78.
Click here to stay up to date with all the results and schedules involving University of Bath-based sportspeople at the 2018 European Championships.
