IRELAND’S MEN’S 4x400m relay team agonisingly missed out on the Rio Olympics after finishing outside of the qualification time by seven hundredths of a second.
The quartet of Brian Gregan, Craig Lynch, David Gillick and Thomas Barr ran a season’s best time of 3:04.32 in this evening’s European Championships final but it just wasn’t enough.
Ireland knew they needed to run 3:04.25 or faster in Amsterdam but despite a surging last leg by Barr, fell heartbreakingly short.
It means Ireland lie in 17th position ahead of tomorrow’s deadline with the top 16 nations qualifying for this summer’s Games.
However, there are suggestions Japan have yet to submit a team and if that comes to pass, Ireland would take the final berth for Rio.
“We gave it our best shot but today it just wasn’t enough to get us in that qualifying spot,” Barr told RTÉ afterwards.
Gillick added: “We’re bitterly disappointed because we came so, so close. Seven hundredths of a second is nothing. But we can come off the track with our head held high against the best 400m runners in Europe.”
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Don’t think he ever saw himself playing for Ireland as part of the seniors. I wonder did the Irish system try and get him involved in u18s and u20s?
Fortunately not a position where we are short as we have some good prospects coming through in all 4 provinces
@Ger: He isnt a prospect tho. Hes actually broken on and is the starter. If he was Irish eligible, I’d have him as the number 2 currently behind Sexton.
Himself and Ioan lloyd are some operators, its exciting to see how they go on the bigger stage
7 new caps for Wales, how many will Farrell announce?
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: how many already in the 6 nations?
Born in wales only right he should represent wales shouldn’t have an option imo