SARAH Lavin is safely through to Friday morning’s semi-finals of the 100m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Running from lane six, Limerick’s sole representative at the XXXIII Olympiad finished a brilliant second in heat four at Stade de France this Wednesday morning (August 7).
Danielle Williams (Jamaica), a two-time world champion, won the heat in 12.59 seconds, with Ireland’s National Championship record-holder Lavin (30), clocking an impressive 12.73.
Notably, World Number six, Ditaji Kambundji (Switzerland), who secured a silver at the European Championships in June, finished third.
This marks the first time World Number 17 Lavin (Emerald AC), of Lisnagry, has finished in front of the rising Swiss star.
After her impressive performance, Lavin told RTÉ Sport that she was “feeling good, that’s the really scary round and to have that one under the belt feels great”.
“I 100 per cent think that’s the scariest round and the next one is the most difficult because so many girls are capable of making that top eight and you need to be clean, but also just go for it.”
The humble Lavin said she will “definitely need to be far more aggressive all the rest of the next round but I’m in the mix, all you could get this morning was the big Q (qualification) and I have that.”
“In the semi-final, the brave will be rewarded. I know I need to be more aggressive in the semi, and be tighter over the hurdles.”
She is coached by Noelle Morrissey.
The three semi-finals are listed for just after 11am on Friday morning, with the final the following evening at 6.35pm.
