Limerick's Sarah Lavin to begin European Indoors glory bid this Thursday

LIMERICK sprint hurdler Sarah Lavin is set to begin her glory bid at this week's European Athletics Indoor Championships in the Netherlands on tomorrow, Thursday evening.

Lisnagry woman Lavin, who stormed home to win her seventh 123.ie National Indoor title in the women's 60m hurdles, last month, will compete in the first round heats of the women's 60m hurdles at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn from 7.50pm Irish time this Thursday.

Should the Emerald AC athlete, who is coached by Noelle Morrissey, progress to the semi-finals, the Olympian will be back in action in the semi-finals from 12.45pm Irish time on Friday afternoon.

The final of the women's 60m hurdles at the European Indoors is due to take place at 8.43pm Irish time on Friday night. RTE TV will be providing live coverage of the European Athletics Indoor Championships from Thursday until Sunday. 

Team Ireland's joint flagbearer at last summer's Paris 2024 Olympics Lavin eased through her 60m hurdles heat at the 123.ie National Indoor Indoors at the National Sports Campus last month in 8.11 seconds before the Limerick woman set an identical time in the final to claim victory ahead of Molly Scott by 0.23 seconds.

Team Ireland, who departed for the Netherlands on Tuesday, will be spearheaded by a host of Olympians, including Lavin.

Lavin claimed a sixth place finish in the final of the 60m hurdles at the European Indoor Athletics Championship in Turkey in 2023.

The Limerick woman clocked a time of 8.03 after a slow start in that final in Istanbul. The European title was won by Finland's Reetta Hurske who clocked a national record of 7.79.

Lavin recorded an excellent fifth place finish in the final of the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow 12 months ago.

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.

Lavin claimed a seventh-placed finish in the women's 100m hurdles final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome last June.

Team Ireland Schedule: Irish Time (Local time in brackets)

Evening Session – Thursday, March 6

Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Round One – 19:50 (20:50)

Morning Session – Friday, March 7

Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Semi-Final – 12:45 (13:45)*

Evening Session – Friday, March 7

Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Final – 20:43 (21:43)*

*Subject to advancing