Scholar Olivia Breen pipped to long jump medal at IPC European Championships
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 24/03/17 12:02pm
Paralympian Olivia Breen was just squeezed out of the long jump medals at the IPC European Championships on Monday.
The 19-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar has a busy schedule in Italy this week and begun her European campaign with seventh in the T38 200m on Sunday.
Breen has impressed on the track and in the sandpit with PBs in the 100m and long jump and stated that what happened in Grosseto would be a "good indicator on how other athletes are doing in the run-up to Rio".
In sunny and warm conditions on Monday afternoon, Breen struggled at the start of her long jump competition with two no jumps, but she hit back strongly and was in bronze position after three leaps and managed 4.34 on her fourth attempt.
At four centimetres short of her unofficial PB set in Newham last week, it was a fine effort under big pressure but it proved not quite enough to secure a place on the podium, nine centimetres short of third-paced Anna Trener-Wierciak (4.43m).
Russian Margarita Goncharova won the event with a whopping 5.11 ahead of Lithuanian Ramune Adomaitiene.
Breen said: "I am really happy. I got an official PB and am very happy to have come fourth in the long jump."
Her coach Julie Hollman Dodoo added: "A really great competition for Olivia. She has come a long way since only starting long jump in 2014.Getting better and better with each competition."
Breen will have a well-earned rest on Tuesday, before competing in her best event the 100m on Wednesday before wrapping up the championships in the 4x100m relay on Thursday.
The GB athletics team won 11 medals on day three as Georgina Hermitage obliterated her own world record to clinch gold in the women's 400m T38 on Monday.
David Weir added the 400m T54 title to his win over 5,000m the previous day clocking 46.10 over one lap with team-mate Richard Chiassaro finishing second. Briton Toby Gold struck gold in the men's 100m T33.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS
10-16 JUNE: IPC Athletics European Championships in Grosseto, Italy
15 JUNE: Holly Bradshaw, Welsh Open
23-26 JUNE: Lucy Garner, National Road Cycling Champs, Stockton-on-Tees
24-26 JUNE: Holly Bradshaw, Jessica Judd at British Championships, Birmingham
25-26 JUNE: Quillan Isidore, British BMX Round 7 & 8, Burgess Park
