Thomas Barr has qualified for the semi-finals of the men's 400m hurdles at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
Barr took the win in a time of 49.49 seconds but needed to muster a sprint finish for the victory - just seeing off Ramsey Angela
A superbly judged 400mH run from Thomas Barr as he secures his place in the semi-finals with a first place finish in heat 2???
⏱️49.49
Semi-final tomorrow from 10.25am?
Result: https://t.co/yCFXJOy40e#Munich2022 #SilverFox pic.twitter.com/67Sv3tpfSS
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 17, 2022
Speaking after his win, the Waterford man revealed his surprise at the finish: "I was not expecting that down the home-straight.
"I felt like I got out really well and set up the race really well down to 200-250.
"Then I kind of took a little bit of a check, see where I was at and where everyone else was at.
"Coming onto the home-straight the stagger unwound.
"Ramsey Angela came back at me on the top bend so I had to put the boot down a little bit."
He now progresses to tomorrow morning's semi-finals at 10:25 - which will consist of the fastest three from each of the heats as well as the fastest losing times.
The win continues Team Ireland's fine showing at the championships.
Yesterday evening unearthed a new star by way of sprint sensation Israel Olatunde.
Olatunde set a new Irish 100m record in finishing sixth in the Final in Munich.
He ran a sensational 10.17 seconds, breaking the 15-year-old record held by Paul Hession.
Later this evening, 19-year-old Rhasidat Adeleke is in the final of the 400 metres.
The Tallaght woman finished third in her semi-final in a time of 51.08 seconds to go through as a fastest qualifier.
