By Damian Lawlor in Rieti
Right from the starters pistol Lucie Cawley (Sligo A.C.) and Ally Duffy (Tullamore Harriers) were in contention in the 2000m steeplechase here at the European Athletics U18 Championships. Lucie Jílková from Czechia set out at a fast pace but ten of the fourteen starters were packed tightly around her for the first kilometre which they passed in 3:18.
With two laps to go the lead pack was down to eight and the fast pace continued. Lucie was among the leaders and able to match them stride for stride. With two hundred metres to go she took the lead just ahead of Franziska Gräter of Germany and looking confident was sprinting for the line. In the end she lost out in gold by just .19 of a second to the fast finishing German. Still a massive run from the young Sligo woman who ran 73 seconds for her final lap. Her finishing time of 6:36.22 is a new national U18 record.
Ally had continued to battle. The pace though was relentless and she had drifted off the leading group with two laps to go. Then with three hundred metres remaining she came with a fast surge and passed three of the other competitors. However in the searing heat of Rieti the young Castledaly woman could not get back up to the leading pack who were now sprinting for the finish. She fought all the way to line and her time of 6:45.28 was only .28 off her personal best for the event. Having just turned sixteen three days previously Ally has a bright future ahead.