At this level one mistake is fatal, and Sarah Lavin got an unwelcome reminder of that at the European Championships in Rome on Saturday night, the 30-year-old Limerick athlete clattering the second barrier with her lead leg, ending her medal hopes in the 100m hurdles final. With that, her chance was gone, Lavin running on and doing her best but having to settle for seventh place in 12.94.
That left her trailing far behind French champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela, who powered to victory in a championship record of 12.31. Samba-Mayela, who is coached by Dubliner John Coghlan, will now be a leading hope for a home gold at the Paris Olympics.
Lavin was fifth in the European final two years ago and fifth at the World Indoor final in Glasgow earlier this year, and while she does have an international medal – a bronze at last year’s European Games – this championship carried far more significance. It was a huge chance, and one she missed. “I got out well to the first hurdle, smashed the second and lost all momentum – the race was gone,” said Lavin.
“I’m so much better than that and I didn’t get to put it out. But if losing didn’t hurt, winning wouldn’t matter. That was a bad run.
” Earlier in the night, she had swept to victory in her semi-final in 12.73, equalling her season’s best, but in truth, with 12.42 winning bronze, it would have taken something seismic for Lavin to reach the podium and keep the good times rolling for the Irish in Rome.
But still, with ei.
