3 days ago
Nick Griggs takes silver at European U23 Championships
Ireland's Nick Griggs claimed silver in the 5,000m at the European Under-23s Championships in Bergen, Norway on Saturday.
The Tyrone native hit the front early, but with 800 metres left to run, event favourite Niels Laros of the Netherlands took up the lead. Griggs stayed on his shoulder before kicking for home inside the lasr 150 metres.
Laros crossed the line just over a second ahead of Griggs in a time of 13:45.80, with Will Barnicoat of Great Britain taking the bronze in 13:46.11.
"I was humming and hawing all week about how I was going to take it out and I think we decided this morning that I was going to take it out," Griggs said afterwards.
"It's hard to make someone of the calibre of Niels (Laros) really hurt over the last few laps so that was kind of my intention.
"I was kind of risking losing the medal to go and get the win, but I was willing to do that to be honest.
"I've won so many silvers and here is another one."
It's Griggs' sixth individual European underage medal - he has a two additional team honours.
In the same event Callum Morgan secured a top-10 finish with a time of 13:53.18. It was his best ever performance at a championship.
In the women's 3,000m steeplechase, Ava O'Connor finished eighth in 9:54.35.
The Tullamore Harriers athlete went with the early pace. Eventual winner Ilona Mononen only got past long-time leader Marta Serrano due to an error on the final-water jump, with a battle at the front for the gold. Mononen took the win in 9:30.49.
Anna Gavigan secured her place in the women's discus final on Sunday, throwing 51.34m in the second round to qualify fifth in group A.
The Dublin-based athlete will compete in the final at 5.20pm on Sunday.
In Sunday's morning session, the relay squads will bid for final places, and 10,000m champion Anika Thompson will return to the track in the evening session for the women's 5,000m final.
