Top three spot for Kevin McGrath

Bohermeen athlete Kevin McGrath surged into the top three in Europe at Santry last weekend only five days after he finished fourth at the inaugural European Youth (u-18) championships in Tbilisi,Georgia.

McGrath contested the Grade A 800m and broke the national record held by Karl Griffin from Donegal which has stood for a number of years.

It was a fine achievement after he narrowly missed out on a medal in Tbilisi and then endured an energy-sapping journey home through Istanbul and Paris.

At Santry he blazed through the opening 200 metres going through the bell in 53 seconds and with the stadium getting behind him the pace increased.

As he entered the final 200 he looked a winner only to be outdone by Welsh runner Elliott Slade who crossed the line in 1:47.70 with McGrath in 1:48.89.

That time was enough to take a fraction off the old record and the Meath teenager became the fastest u-18 runner in Ireland at the distance.

The result ranks him third in Europe behind Simone Barontini Italy 1:48.76 and George Mills England 1:48.82.