Tír Chonaill AC's Dewhirst makes European U-18 Athletic Championships final

Fintan Dewhirst this morning qualified for the final of the 400m Hurdles at the European Under-18 Athletic Championships at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University Stadium in Israel.

The Tír Chonaill AC member finished fourth in the first semi-final and with the top three qualifying automatically, had to wait until the conclusion of the second before learning his time of 52.62 seconds was enough to progress as one of the two fastest losers.

Dewhirst, a St Columba’s Comprehensive School Glenties student, was just 0.04 of second outside of his Personal Best, which he set only yesterday in the heats coming home in second place.

This morning’s semi-final was won by Finland’s Antti Sainio in 51.43 seconds, with Hungarian Gergő Takács second clocking 52.09 seconds, just ahead of Tijm Oostermon from the Netherlands, with 52.27. Fifth place went to Spain’s David Perez, with his 52.70 also good enough to reach the final.