Kate O’Connor will begin this evening’s 800m event in the heptathlon in the gold medal position after this morning’s long jump and javelin events.
O’Connor’s (5812) lead is just 51 points in a bunched leaderboard, with two Dutch athletes breathing down here neck; Emma Oosterwegel (5761) in second and Sofie Dokter (5741) in third.
It was all about first attempts this morning for O’Connor, with her 6.55 in the long jump a personal best, before she threw 50.16 in the javelin.
Kate O’Connor reflects on a ‘special’ effort in the long jump as she targets gold in the heptathlon #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/h12NERiJca
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026
She couldn’t better those two marks in her subsuquent two attempts in either discipline, but she’ll be back on track for the decisive 800m at 7.45pm.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport afterwards, O’Connor reflected on what was, in her opinion, a mixed morning for her.
On the long jump, she said: “I knew I had a good jump in me, so I’m delighted I managed to pull that out of the bag. I really needed it to throw myself back in the mix. Delighted with that one.”
Not as complimentary on her javelin throws, adding: “I don’t know what else to say, I know I have a great throw in me; it just didn’t happen today. I really don’t want to make excuse, it just didn’t happen.
“I’m capable of throwing much further than that but thankfully I didn’t lose too much ground. I have a healthy enough lead at the moment, I’m positive.”
Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan have made it into the final of the women’s 1500 metres, while Jodie McCann missed out.
Healy was the best of the trio, coming home second in heat two in a time of 4:08.12, with O’Sullivan just behind her in fifth, passing the finish line in a time of 4:08.88.
Both were caught up in a bit of early traffic but they both finished very strongly on the home straight to book their places in tomorrow’s final.
Relief was very much on Healy’s mind when she spoke to David Gillick afterwards.
I look at these races and feel like I should be going through, I was very nervous today.,” she said.
Sarah Healy on what for her was a ‘cagey’ 1500m semi-final, a race where, as she admitted herself, she nearly fell #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/FnAAtW6Cdr
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026
That’s my least-favourite type of racing. Cagey. I almost fell so I’m proud of how I recovered. It wasn’t the cleanest race for me; I’m so relieved.”
O’Sullivan also referenced “a lot of falling” but felt with 100 metres to go that she could get to those in front od her and seal of spot in the final.
Obvious delight for Sophie O’Sullivan in making the 1500m final #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/KCIsDvLdG3
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026
Jodie McCann, meanwhile, ran in heat one, and came home 13th in a time of 4:14.63.
McCann made a move with two laps to go, running along the outside to get close to the front, but then began to fall back as the athletes took the bell, and the pace ramped up.
And there was no final lap burst from the Dubliner as Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell won in 4:08.97.
Sophie O’Sullivan and Sarah Healy, right, have made it into tomorrow’s 1500m final
In the men’s half marathon race walk, both Irish competitors claimed personal bests. David Kenny finished sixth in a time of 1:24.49, just a minute off the podoum spots.
In the women’s 4x100m relay, Ireland came home fourth in heat one in a national record of 43.13.
It put the team of Lucy-May Sleeman, Ciara Neville, Sarah Leahy and Lauren Roy into the hotseat as one of the two fastest qualifiers, alongside Austria (43.37).
Replays suggested that Ireland’s first handover, between Sleeman and Neville, may have fallen outside of the 30-metre exchange zone, which would have resulted in their disqualification. But there was no punishment after an investigation.
Italy won the heat in a season’s best time of 42.22.
Switzerland were the winners in the second heat, in a time of 42.38. Importantly, from an Irish perspective, Slovakia’s time of 44.20 was slower than Ireland’s, a result which secured their place in the final.
A short while later, the men’s 4×100 relay team also booked their place in the final.
The team of Toluwabori Akinola, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus Lawler and Israel Olatunde ran a season’s best time of 39.13, finishing fourth in their heat and sixth overall.
Britain won the first heat in a time of 38.29, while Italy won Ireland’s heat in a time of 38.50.
In the half marathon race walk, both Irish competitors produced personal bests.
David Kenny finished sixth in a PB of 1:24:49, with Oisín Lane, 11th, in 1:27.09.
Both walkers were happy with their efforts around the streets of Birmingham
Kerryman Kenny told RTÉ Sport: “I knew I had a good block of training done but as it’s the European Championships, you don’t know how the race is going to go. I went out, settled into the pack and went from there. Sixth place is massive for me, massive step forward.
‘Sixth place is massive for me’ – Kerry’s David Kenny reflects on a strong finish in the men’s half marathon race walk #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/A0fa4J4xOI
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026
“I knew I was in the lead group, but they are calibre, you knew there was more to come from them. It was a case of conserving my energy and put myself in the best position. I think I did that. Really happy with the way I raced and came through. It would have been nice to come close to that bronze medal, will take sixth for now. I can’t complain.”
Mullingar Harriers clubman Lane added: Lane – “I’m happy, it was more than a four-minute PB. The race was ridiculously fast. Lots of twists and turns, ups and downs, on different surfaces. Tough course but the guys were insanely fast. Happy to finish 11th.”
EVENING:
Women’s Heptathlon – Day 2 – Kate O’Connor
7.45-7.56pm: 800m (final event)
Men’s 10,000m final
8.25-8.55pm: Jack O’Leary
Men’s 1500m final
9.07-9.11pm: Andrew Coscoran
Men’s 4x100m Relay final
9.33pm
Women’s 4x100m Relay final
9.48pm