On a Roman Saturday night, the Stadio Olimpico looked towards Sarah Lavin, an Irish sprinter, as one of the latest potential winners of an Irish medal. As if in answer to this expectation, the 100 metres hurdler from Limerick did not disappoint. She advanced confidently to the final on the second day of the European Athletics Championships, holding steadfast to her form and personal goals.
In the first of three semi-finals, all eyes were on the two that would progress to the final. Lavin secured her victory with a composed and controlled race, completing it in 12.73 seconds, matching her seasonal best in the process.
Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who cinched the bronze medal in Munich’s championships two years prior, scored second place by finishing in 12.79 seconds. This put Lavin notably ahead. France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela claimed victory in the second semi-final, recording 12.43 seconds, the fastest European time this year so far. Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska took second place with a timing of 12.62 seconds, assuring the quality of the culminating race.
Cindy Sember from Britain won the final semi-final with a time of 12.64 seconds, even faster than Lavin. Nadine Vasser, a Dutch runner, placed second with a timing of 12.81 seconds. The decisive race for the medal is scheduled for 9.08pm, Irish time.
Lavin acknowledged that she would probably need to clock in the 12.50s to find a place on the podium — a faster time than she has ever achieved before. In her own words, “I reckon you’ll have to be in the 12.50s”. Maintaining hope and a positive perspective, Lavin reflects on her strides over the last year. It hasn’t been a year since she broke Derval O’Rourke’s 13-year-old Irish record at the World Championships in Budapest, achieving a time of 12.62 seconds in her semi-final, surpassing the 12.65 seconds mark set by O’Rourke when she won the silver medal in the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona, her second win in a row.
Lavin, who celebrated his 30th birthday last month and secured fifth place in Munich a couple of years prior, takes solace from the bronze medal he clinched at the European Games in Poland the previous summer. Even though it was somewhat of a time trial, it still boosts his self-assurance.