Dublin runner Sarah Healy put in a gutsy performance at the European Championships, finishing fourth in the 5,000m final as she tests herself over the longer distance ahead of her main event this weekend.
Healy, who is primarily a 1,500m specialist, took on the 5,000m as a bonus run before her preferred event on Saturday. It was a bold call, and she more than held her own against some of the best middle and long distance runners on the continent.
Fourth place at a European Championships final is no small achievement, particularly in an event that is not her strongest. The Dubliner has been in strong form coming into these championships, and the 5,000m outing will have given her valuable race sharpness heading into what is expected to be her real shot at a medal.
All eyes will now turn to Saturday when Healy lines up in the 1,500m final, the event where she is considered a genuine contender for a podium finish. Having already banked a high-quality race in her legs this week, she will be hoping that extra fitness and race experience works in her favour when the real prize is on the line.
Healy has been one of Irish athletics most exciting talents in recent years, consistently performing at the highest level on the European and world stage. A medal in the 1,500m on Saturday would mark a career highlight and add another chapter to what has already been a remarkable rise through the ranks of distance running.