Limerick hurdler Sarah Lavin seventh in European Championship final

LIMERICK sprint hurdler Sarah Lavin claimed a seventh-placed finish in the women's 100m hurdles final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on Saturday evening.

The Lisnagry woman, who is the Irish record holder for the event, was unfortune to clip the second hurdle which halted her momentum, ultimately seeing her cross in a time of 12.94. The Emerald AC athlete had won her semi-final heat in a season's best 12.73 earlier on Saturday evening. Lavin was one of four Irish sprint athletes who automatically qualify for the semi-finals of the European Championships based on a top-12 ranking.

Speaking after her final on Saturday evening, 30-year-old Lavin said: “I got out well to the first hurdle but then smashed the second, so the race was gone. Right now, it’s just very raw.

“It’s not the placing, it’s that I know my performance is much better than that.”

Lavin later added: “I’m sure in a few days I’ll be grateful the Olympic is only a few weeks away and I’ll come back, but if loosing didn’t hurt winning wouldn’t matter.”

Saturday night's 100m hurdles final was won in a new championship record time of 12.31 from France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela who was followed home by Ditaji Kambunji 12.40 and Pia Skrzyszowska 12.42.

Sarah Lavin has already qualified for this summer's Olympics in Paris.

Lavin, who is coached by Noelle Morrissey, claimed an excellent fifth place finish in the final of the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March.

The ultra consistent sprint hurdler clocked 7.91 seconds in the final, just .01 of a second outside her personal best which she had set in the semi-finals.

The Limerick woman recorded an impressive fifth place finish in the 100m hurdles final at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich.