Advertisement
Morgan Treacy/INPHO

'I gave him a look to make sure he knew I was there': Leon Reid powers into European 200m final

The Menapians club man clocked 20.38 seconds in his semi-final and is capable of going faster in tomorrow’s final.

RECENTLY-TRANSFERRED TEAM Ireland sprinter Leon Reid produced another scorching run to earn a place in tomorrow night’s European Championship 200m final in Berlin.

Bath-born Reid, eligible for Ireland through his mother, took the second automatic qualifying berth in the first sprint semi-final this evening with a time of 20.38 seconds.

Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev won the heat, however Reid appeared to have more in the tank if he had needed to push for victory.

“My mum’s come off work again to fly out and see me, so I couldn’t let her down,” Reid told RTE’s David Gillick after his impressive run.

“I thought I’d stick with (Guliyev) and then coming off the bend is my strongest bit.

“I came off and he didn’t go, so I was like: ‘I got you’. I gave him a little look to make sure he knew I was there.

“Everyone’s going to recognise the green when we come off that turn.”

Leon Reid is greeted by a supporter after qualifying for the final Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Reid will enter the final as the sixth-fastest man from this evening’s semi-finals, with Switzerland’s Alex Wilson and Spain’s Bruno Hortelano leading the way on 20.16 and 20.29 respectively.

Post-race, Reid said his green singlet felt like “a supersuit” as he reveled in competition for Ireland after an 18-month wait for his transfer to be given clearance.

“We’ll get it ready, get it washed and go again tomorrow even faster.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Close
16 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 7:58 AM

    If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Irish Pain
    Favourite The Irish Pain
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 11:21 AM

    @Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Heneghan
    Favourite Conor Heneghan
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 4:43 PM

    @The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 10:28 AM

    Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Reilly
    Favourite Tom Reilly
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 10:51 AM

    @Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 12:49 PM

    @Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oval Digest
    Favourite Oval Digest
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 10:30 AM

    Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
    I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
    When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.

    In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.

    A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute grandslamkbo
    Favourite grandslamkbo
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 12:19 PM

    @Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oval Digest
    Favourite Oval Digest
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 2:52 PM

    @grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
    https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Smith
    Favourite Mark Smith
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 11:34 AM

    Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.

    He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
    Yes squad not team

    His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ruairi O'Bric
    Favourite Ruairi O'Bric
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 8:04 AM

    Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Irish Pain
    Favourite The Irish Pain
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 11:19 AM

    @Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamann Ó Duinn
    Favourite Éamann Ó Duinn
    Report
    Aug 24th 2018, 11:59 AM

    Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oisín Cleary
    Favourite Oisín Cleary
    Report
    Aug 25th 2018, 5:47 AM

    He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel