Joice Maduaka just missed out on a medal in the women's 100m as she finished fourth in 11.24sec in a race won by with Kim Gevaert of Belgium (11.06sec). Silver and bronze went to Russia with Yekaterina Grigoryeva and Irina Khabarova, both running 11.22sec.
Maduaka has enjoyed a great season growing in confidence and producing the times to match them. Emma Ania went out after finishing sixth in her semi-final in 11.49sec following a poor start.
Tim Benjamin came in sixth in the 400m after an injury disrupted season. He ran 45.89sec while Marc Raquil made his customary but untidy charge through the field in the last 100m.
Also in sixth place was Andy Baddeley. He moved into all the right places in the men's 1500m but as Mehdi Baala charged down the backstraight in 12.5sec it was clear Baddeley had his work cut out. He ran 3min 42.31sec as Baala kept his hands on the title he won in Munich. Limerick's Liam Reale finished in an impressive eighth place with a run that should have boosted his confidence.
Tasha Danvers Smith came in seventh in the 400m hurdles as Yevgeniya Isakova of Russia beat Olympic champion Fania Halkia of Greece to the line with a personal best to 53.93sec.
Marlon Devonish comfortably moved into the semi-finals of the 200m with smooth looking 20.53sec and 20.67sec clockings. Tim Abeyie went out after running 21.17sec in his heat but Rikki Fifton progressed with 20.73. Paul Hession qualified for the semi-finals with 20.80sec. Paul Brizzel and Gary Ryan both went out – Brizzel pulling up injured and Ryan not making it out of his first round heat.
Jermaine Mays and Adam Bowden both went out in the heats of the steeplechase. Mays was ninth in his heat in 8min 41.70sec and Bowden was 10th in his with 8min 35.79sec.
Have you got something to say about this story? Make your views known in our forum.
