SARAH HEALY AND Sophie O\u2019Sullivan have qualified for final of the women\u2019s 1500m at the European Athletics Championships after a composed run from both athletes in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
Healy and O\u2019Sullivan both ran in the second heat, and were positioned near the front coming into the final lap. O\u2019Sullivan appeared to be caught in the bunch as the bell rang out while Healy was out wide between fourth and fifth.<\/p>\n
But the Irish duo produced a blistering final sprint as the field started to disperse on the home straight. Healy glided across the line in\u00a04:08.12 to take second place while O\u2019Sullivan was fifth in\u00a04:08.88 with the top-six automatically going through to tomorrow\u2019s final.<\/p>\n
\nSarah Healy (4:08.10) and Sophie O’Sullivan (4:08.88) both through to the women’s 1,500m final, finishing second and fifth respectively. Big suprise is that GB’s Laura Muir did not qualify #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Zqn8h6AUKB<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The big shock from that heat was that Great Britain\u2019s Laura Muir failed to qualify. The 2022 champion faded over the final strides, eventually coming home in eighth place.<\/p>\n
Jodie McCann was also in action for Ireland in the women\u2019s 1500m. She ran in the first heat, and finished in 13th place after crossing the line in\u00a04:14.63.<\/p>\n
\nThe Irish team of Lucy-May Sleeman, Ciara Neville, Sarah Leahy, and Lauren Roy finished fourth in their 4x100m relay semi-final in 43.13, a national record – and are through to the final #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BxoltekBmd<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very relieved,\u201d Healy told RT\u00c9 Sport after her race, having narrowly missed out on a medal in the final of the 5000m earlier this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I look at these races, I feel like I should be getting through, but I was so nervous today. That\u2019s my least favourite type of racing. It was cagey, I almost fell, so I\u2019m pretty proud of how I recovered and stayed calm. It wasn\u2019t the cleanest race for me but I\u2019m relieved, and I couldn\u2019t feel the 5000m in my legs, so that\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nSarah Healy on what for her was a ‘cagey’ 1500m semi-final, a race where, as she admitted herself, she nearly fell #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FnAAtW6Cdr<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Elsewhere at the European Athletics Championships, the women\u2019s 4x100m relay team clinched the eighth and last qualification spot for tonight\u2019s final.\u00a0Lucy-May Sleeman,\u00a0Ciara Neville, Sarah Leahy and Lauren Roy combined to set a new national record of\u00a043.13 and take fourth in the first heat.<\/p>\n
\nThe Irish team of Lucy-May Sleeman, Ciara Neville, Sarah Leahy, and Lauren Roy finished fourth in their 4x100m relay semi-final in 43.13, a national record – and are through to the final #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BxoltekBmd<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There was a nervy wait as Ireland\u2019s performance was assessed for a potential breach while the baton was being passed between Sleeman and Neville. But their time was later deemed valid, and they will compete in the final later tonight where Rhasidat Adeleke could be included in the line-up.<\/p>\n
\nThe Ireland’s men’s team take their place in the 4x100m relay final, finishing 4th in their heat in a season’s best time of 39.13 – 7th overall #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XCXyVpvCmM<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There was also good news for the men\u2019s 4x100m relay team who also advanced to the final.\u00a0\u00a0Toluwabori Akinola, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus Lawler and Israel Olatunde ran a season\u2019s best time of 39.13 to clinch fourth in their heat and sixth overall.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, David Kenny and Ois\u00edn Lane were both in action in the Men\u2019s Half Marathon Race Walk this morning. The pair clocked new personal best times as Kenny finished sixth in 1.24:49. Lane crossed the line in 11th place in a time of 1.27:09.<\/p>\n
Written by Sinead Farrell and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won\u2019t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women\u2019s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n