Foster Secures 2nd In European Team Cup in Finland

Ireland's fastest sprinter Amy Foster finished a solid 2nd  over the weekend in the 100 metres at the First League of the European Team Cup in Vaasa, Finland. Her performance helped the Irish  finish with 238 points  for 8th place from 12 teams thus ensuring they remain in the First League. Sweden won the competition with 320 points. 

28 year old Foster  was always going to be in contention in the final following her heat time of 11.59 secs. Times were slower in the final because of a  negative wind of 1.2 metres.

However ,following her usual fast start Amy managed to maintain her momentum to finish in her highest ever position in this competition in a time of 11.70 secs behind winner Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland who recorded 11.45 secs. The Lisburn AC woman was also a key member of the Irish  4x100m Relay squad which finished 2nd in 44.80 secs.

Foster, who obtained a qualification time for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year said she was really pleased with her placing and was now planning to secure further faster times this season.

There were two convincing victories for the Irish team in Finland. Brian Gregan had a clear win by over half a second  in the 400 metres in 45.83 secs  .In the 800 metres Letterkenny's Mark English won a tactical race against Swiss rival  Andreas Bube in 1.49.02.

New high jump star Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley performed well in her first major competition. The 17 year old finished 4th with 1.80 metres behind two women who jumped the same height but  finished  ahead of her  on count back. Crusader's Adam McMullen was also 4th in the long jump with 7.64 metres which is the same distance he recently recorded when retaining his NI title.

Other local performances included Irish team captain Kerry O'Flaherty of Newcastle who was 7th in the steeplechase in 10 mins 11.88 secs . In a classy Men's hammer Finn Valley's Dempsey McGuigan had to settle for 6th place despite a useful throw of 65.72 metres .

Strabane's  Anne Marie McGlynn was 6th in the 5,000 metres in a PB by 4 secs of 16.03.64. Banbridge's Emma Mitchell was 9th in the 1,500 metres in 4.19.20 which is her 2nd fastest outdoors.