Sarah Healy has won gold for Ireland.
17-year-old Sarah Healy claimed Ireland’s first ever gold medal at the 2018 U18 European championships on Hungary on Friday night. She cruised to victory in the 3000m final, crossing the finish line in a new championship and Irish youth record of 9:18.05.
Healy was one of Ireland’s main medal prospects having set a new Irish Youth and Under-20 record over 800m at the Belfast International meet two weeks ago.
She became the third Irish athlete to medal at the European U18 Championships. Healy follows in the footsteps of Gina Akpe-Moses, who claimed a silver in the 100m in 2017 while Molly Scott got a bronze in the 100m hurdles two years ago.
You can watch Healy’s final lap in the video embedded below.
It's gold for Ireland in the 3000m!
Sarah Healy produced a final kilometre of 2:57 to win the 3000m title at the European U18 Championships in a championship record of 9:18.05. pic.twitter.com/KvbJX22X4E
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 6, 2018
Healy isn’t done yet either.
Earlier today she won her 1500m heat in a time of 4:30.29. This means she has a chance of being responsible for half of all Irish medals at the European U18 Championships. That final takes place tomorrow evening.
President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins sent his congratulations to Healy on social media. Uachtarán na hÉireann called it an ‘extraordinary achievement’.
“My sincere congratulations to Sarah Healy on her extraordinary achievement at the U18 European Athletics Championships today, winning gold in the 3,000 meters.”
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) July 6, 2018
