IRISHMAN BRIAN GREGAN scorched to a new personal best time of 45.63 to win his heat of the men’s 400m on day one of the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Gregan’s time of 45.63 was the quickest of all the qualifiers to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for 4.40pm on June 28.

Following his victory, Gregan said: “I am absolutely thrilled with the time and the win. We have worked a lot on my technique this year and I think that really showed. I felt fresh and I am now looking forward to the semi-finals where I won’t be holding anything back.”

Joanne Cuddihy had a less successful day however, after she was disqualified in the 400m heats, having been adjudged to have stepped outside her lane.

Jessie Barr, sister to Thomas, who enjoyed success earlier today, made it a great day for the Barr household when  she finished third in her heat of the women’s 400m hurdles. Barr ran a time of 56.30 to book an automatic place in the semi finals. Barr’s time was the second fastest of her career, just behind her personal best of 56.14, which she set this year.

Double Para-Olympian champion Jason Smyth finished fourth in the men’s 100m heats in a time of 10.47.

He subsequently finished seventh in the 100m semi-final this evening, with a time of 10.52, meaning he will not progress to the final.

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