Athletics – Smyth Misses Out On European Final

Derry’s double paralympian champion Jason Smyth  finished 7th in the men’s 100m semi-final at the European Championships in Finland on Wednesday in a time of 10.52.
Smyth made the semi-finals by qualifying in fourth position (10.47) from the heats held earlier in the day.  Smyth got a much better start in the final and only lost out on fifth position on the dip finish.
The Eglinton sprinter has still to run the time of 10.18 to qualify for the London Olympics. The 24 year old who has come close to the time already this year will have another opportunity to try and reach that standard either next week or at the Nationals.
In 2010 Smyth, whose vision is affected by a condition known as Stargardt’s Disease, became the first Paralympic athlete to compete at a European Championships.
Elsewhere Finn Valley’s Tori Pena will contest the Pole Vault on Thursday.