WATCH: Limerick hurdler Sarah Lavin 'honoured and blessed' to reach tonight's European Indoor final

LIMERICK sprint hurdler Sarah Lavin has powered her way into this evening's women's 60m hurdles final at the European Indoors Athletics Championships in Turkey.

Lisnagry woman Lavin recovered superbly after a slow start to finish third in her semi-final on Sunday morning in a time of 7.99 to reach Sunday evening's final which gets underway at 5.55pm, live on RTE2 TV.

The semi-final was won by Finland's Reetta Hurske in 7.85, with France's Laeticia Bapte finishing second in 7.91.

Twenty eight year old Lavin's semi-final time was the sixth fastest among those to qualify for tonight's final.

Physiotherapist Lavin is no stranger to major athletics finals after qualifying for the 100m hurdles final at the European Athletics Championships in Munich last August and the World Indoor Championships 60m hurdles final in Belgrade last March.

The Emerald AC athlete is coached by Noelle Morrissey.

Sarah Lavin is into the final of the 60m hurdles in Turkey!

READ: https://t.co/VzW0WK6Irb

Watch the European Indoor Athletics championships now on @RTEplayer https://t.co/58N1nTXdAZ pic.twitter.com/Nk0xB0sDrr

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 5, 2023

Afterwards in an interview with BBC Sport, Lavin said: "My start left a lot to be desired, to be honest. I gave everyone probably a metre and you simply cannot do that at the highest level, but somehow I came through the field, a really strong dip there, it was pretty tight.

"Even you're listening to the line-up (for the race) and you're trying to zone in but you're thinking 'oh my word', everyone's accolades one after then next, you're like 'wow'. European hurdlers have really shown high standards this season. 

"To be heading into a major final among them, I'm blessed, honoured and I just want to do a better performance.'

Lavin said she was hopeful of being able to run a faster time in this evening's European Indoor final.

"I'm optimistic I can," she said.

@sarahlavin_ speaking after making her 3rd major final in just 12 months

“elated…a major final after making the World indoor final last year and the European outdoors final in Munich”#Istanbul2023 pic.twitter.com/mjHFiROFVG

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 5, 2023

"Every athlete is confident, it's only natural. I'm optimistic that if we can sort that first hurdle and I can get there - I don't even mean like ahead - just around the same time, then it's all to play for." 

 Lavin set her personal best for the 60m hurdles indoors of 7.95 at the World Indoor Tour Gold meet in Madrid last month.