LAST UPDATE | 8 Mar 2025

SARAH HEALY CRUISED into Sunday’s 3000m final at the European Indoor Championships after finishing first in her heat in Apeldoorn while Orla Comerford won the Women’s 60m Para Mixed Classification.

Jodie McCann missed out on a place in the final in the same event, but Irish teammate Bori Akinola is through to Saturday evening’s men’s 60m semi-finals after an impressive European debut.

Dubliner Healy was racing in the first of two 3000m heats on Saturday morning and produced a controlled performance throughout to put herself in the frame for a medal in Sunday afternoon’s decider.

Healy finished in a time of 8:55:35, fractionally ahead of the Netherlands’ Maureen Koster (8:55:40) and Ludovica Cavallii (8:55:47).

Home and hosed for Sarah Healy, who takes the win in the Women's 3000m heats and qualifies for the final tomorrow evening🤩

🕛1th | 8:55.35

Results➡️ https://t.co/4DiMNHXLdX

📸Sportsfile#IrishAthletics #Apeldoorn2025 @ask123ie @adidasrunning pic.twitter.com/NsfhHiQKMy

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 8, 2025

It had been Germany’s Lea Meyer who set the early pace which eventually saw the pack split about 1500 metres into the race.

A leading group of six pulled clear to the extent that they were able to manage the last few laps and cruise into the final, resulting in an extremely slow-paced heat overall.

Healy closely tailed the leader throughout but poked herself in front at the finish line to win her semi-final.

There was no such luck in the second heat for Irish teammate Jodie McCann, however, who missed out on a place in Sunday afternoon’s showpiece.

An even slower-paced heat overall picked up over the final kilometre, with McCann finishing 10th of 11 runners in a time of 9:18.73.

What a performance from Bori Akinola!⚡

A blistering start saw him some through for 2nd, securing a comfortable spot in this evening's semi-finals!

🕛2nd | 6.66

Results➡️ https://t.co/BAe5YjLuJO

📸Sportsfile#IrishAthletics #Apeldoorn2025 @ask123ie @adidasrunning pic.twitter.com/LHj1ura48t

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 8, 2025

Orla Comerford stormed to victory in the Women’s 60m Para Mixed Classification, racing clear in a season’s best time of 7.63. She came in ahead of France’s Marie Ngoussou-Ngouyi who clocked 7.99 while Zara Temmink of the Netherlands took third.

This is the first time first time para events have been included in the European Indoor championships, along with a men’s long jump event.

“This opportunity came about four weeks ago and I had started late back after Paris,” she told RTÉ Sport after her race. “We hadn’t planned an indoor season and when it came around, we said we have to take it.

“Para athletics is athletics. It’s the same level. The stories are there and given the opportunity, people will buy into it. I’m hoping this summer there’ll be a few Diamond Leagues and a few more opportunities.”

A delighted Orla Comerford speaks to RTE Sport following her victory in the 60m Para Athletics at the European Indoor Championships.

📺 Watch live on @rte2, @RTEplayer, and @rtenews channel pic.twitter.com/6h40TlBS87

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 8, 2025

In the men’s 60m, Bori Akinola, making his European Indoors bow, qualified for Saturday evening’s semis by finishing second in his heat.

The Dubliner clocked in at 6.66 to reach the penultimate stage of the event, which begins at 6:10pm Irish time.

In the men’s 3,000m, Andrew Coscoran booked his place in tomorrow’s final after a fifth-placed finish in a heat which was won by Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Coscoran clocked 7:56.37 to progress.

James Gormley missed out on qualification. Making his debut in the Irish singlet, Gormley posted 7:53.27 to take eighth. 

Written by The 42 and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.