By Damian Lawlor in Rieti
Jack Collins (Tralee Harriers) has made great strides forward this year and has improved his personal best for 800m from 1:57.91 all the way down to an impressive 1:51.24. This new PB was set in early June at the British Milers’ Club Grand Prix in Loughborough and sealed Jack’s selection for the European U18 Championships here in Rieti.
Jack lined out in heat four and was off at a lightening quick pace once he heard the starters pistol. After fifty metres he was clearly the leader as the announcer at the Guidobaldi stadium noted. Jack wisely decided to settle into the pack but no one was prepared to take out the pace and the field was tightly packed down the back straight.
Just after 200m Jack appeared to get a knock as the athletes fought for their position and he shuffled to back of the pack. He went through the gears again and was back in the leading three within seconds. However the slow pace continued and the runners got the bell at a pedestrian 60 seconds.
Once the attacks for home started Jack was not found wanting and he was able to move into an automatic qualifying spot with 200m to go. However Spain’s Sergio Redondo had something left in the tank and was able to get passed the young Kerry athlete with just over one hundred metres to go.
Jack battled all the way but just could not bridge the gap to the Spaniard missing out on qualification by just .15 of a second. With his heat having been so slow there was no one qualifying for the final on time from his heat.