Kelly McGrory hits massive PB to slam right into Olympic, European contention

Kelly McGrory shaved over a second off her previous best time to take the Donegal 400m record into 52-second territory for the first time.

The Tir Chonaill AC woman recorded a notable win in Belgium on Saturday morning

The 27-year-old won a women's 400m in 52.62 seconds at the IFAM Outdoor meet in Brussels

Over a lap of the King Baudouin Stadium, McGrory outlined that both her Olympic and European intentions for the Ireland women's 4x400 relay team are very real.

McGrory had set a 53.76-second Donegal record at the Milano Sprint Gala, but she lowered that mark by over a second in Belgium to beat Germany's Annkathrin Hoven, who clocked 52.86, and Dutch runner Madelief Van Leur, who finished in 53.22.

McGrory is 11^th on the Irish all-time list but, of more significance in the short term, hers is the third fastest by an Irish woman over 400m this year. Only Sharlene Mawdsley (51.09) and Sophie Becker (51.83) have gone quicker in 2024 so far.

With the European Championships in Rome and the Olympic Games in Paris in focus now, the Laghey woman has slammed herself right into the mix.

McGrory will return to action over the 400m hurdles on Sunday in Brussels, where she will aim to hit the European standard of 57.00 seconds. McGrory's personal best in the event is 57.22.

In another of the flat 400m races in Brussels, Finn Valley AC's Arlene Crossan was fifth, finishing in 55.82 seconds.

Sian Harry from Great Britain won that race in 54.37 seconds.