Disappointment for Gerard as he bows out of European Championships

There was disappointment for Carrick-on-Shannon and Ireland’s Gerard O’Donnell this morning in his 60m hurdle heat at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague.

Gerard finished sixth in his heat in a time of 8.06, which is some way off his season’s best time of 7.73 which he registered at the IFAM indoor meet in Ghent, Belgium last month.

Speaking to the Irish Independent after the race Gerard said, “I just got left in the blocks and was forcing it from there on, I smashed into hurdle four. I’m gutted but I’ve no excuses, I just didn’t stay relaxed and run my best.”

Gerard also took to Twitter to express his frustration but insisted he will be back stronger saying, “Obviously very disappointed with how this morning went. But, there will be a next time, and next time will be better.”

See next Wednesday’s Leitrim Observer for more reaction.