Brian Gregan, Craig Lynch, David Gillick and Thomas Barr finished fourth in their heat in a time of 3:04.42, which proved just enough to advance as one of the fastest losers.
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Ireland will need another big performance tomorrow afternoon [5.30pm] when they must break 3:04.25 to have any chance of going to the Olympics.
“We’ve gotten to the final and that’s the position we want to be in,” Gillick said afterwards.
“It’s about the team and all the runners the last couple of years that have put us in this position. Hopefully this quartet can do the business tomorrow and we’re motivated to get out there again tomorrow.”
Gillick and Barr embrace at the finish line. Karel Delvoije / INPHO
Karel Delvoije / INPHO / INPHO
The team currently lie in 17th and need to break into the top 16 Olympic qualifying positions before the cut-off date on Monday.
The Czech Republic ran a national record of 3:02.66 today and will overtake Ireland if they can replicate that performance tomorrow. This would mean the Irish team would require 3:04.05 to overtake Japan and get inside the top 16.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for the women’s relay team despite Sinead Denny, Phil Healy, Jenna Bromell and Ciara McCallon running a season’s best of 3:34.02.
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Last chance saloon! Ireland's relay team keep their Rio dream alive
IRELAND’S MEN’S 4x400m RELAY team will have one last chance to qualify for Rio after advancing to tomorrow’s European Athletics Championships final.
Brian Gregan, Craig Lynch, David Gillick and Thomas Barr finished fourth in their heat in a time of 3:04.42, which proved just enough to advance as one of the fastest losers.
Ireland will need another big performance tomorrow afternoon [5.30pm] when they must break 3:04.25 to have any chance of going to the Olympics.
“We’ve gotten to the final and that’s the position we want to be in,” Gillick said afterwards.
“It’s about the team and all the runners the last couple of years that have put us in this position. Hopefully this quartet can do the business tomorrow and we’re motivated to get out there again tomorrow.”
The team currently lie in 17th and need to break into the top 16 Olympic qualifying positions before the cut-off date on Monday.
The Czech Republic ran a national record of 3:02.66 today and will overtake Ireland if they can replicate that performance tomorrow. This would mean the Irish team would require 3:04.05 to overtake Japan and get inside the top 16.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for the women’s relay team despite Sinead Denny, Phil Healy, Jenna Bromell and Ciara McCallon running a season’s best of 3:34.02.
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Athletics Ireland David Gillick European Athletics Championship Squeaky Bum Time