Bruton through as fast loser

Niall Bruton is through to the final of the European 1,500 metres after qualifying as one of the four fastest losers.

When the original qualifying format was revised it was decided to confine the qualification process to two races instead of three and it was Bruton's good fortune to be drawn in the second of them.

This proved crucial, for when the first semi-final was won by Reyes Estevez of Spain, in the relatively leisurely time of three minutes 41.53 seconds, the athletes in the second semi-final knew exactly what was required to progress.

Bruton, running conservatively, hovered just off the lead throughout the race which was won by the former Olympic champion Fermin Cacho in three minutes 38.52 secs.

The Irishman, who finished seventh of 12 starters, was timed at 3:39.58 and would have been at least half a second faster had he not slowed down over the last 25 metres.

His only moment of crisis materialised going down the back straight for the last time when, after being pushed from behind, he had to grab Cacho's singlet to prevent himself going down. However, he quickly recovered his composure to get back in contact with the pace.

"That was my best performance of the season so far - and I'm delighted," he said. "It was typical championship running and you had to be able to look after yourself."

Earlier, Tom McGuirk advanced to the semi-finals of the 400 metres hurdles, again as one of the fastest losers. McGuirk finished last of seven in heat three, despite returning career best figures of 49.92 seconds in a race won by Carlos Silva of Portugal in 49.00. It was the first occasion that he had broken 50 seconds and his delight was manifest as he anticipated the prospect of going faster in today's semi-finals.

There was considerably less joy for the two Irishman in the 20 kilometres walk which was won by IIly Markov of Russia in sweltering temperatures in a time of one hour 21 minutes 10 seconds. Michael Casey of Sligo was last of the 25 finishers in 1:38.58 and was so dehydrated he required medical treatment. Pierce O'Callaghan suffered even more and, after dropping out at 12 kilometres, he was removed by ambulance to the medical centre where he was placed on a drip.

Among the Irish competitors in action today will be Susan Smith. With the first round of the women's 400 metres hurdles cancelled, she now goes in the third of three semi-finals in which only the Hungarian, Judit Szekeres, is faster on paper.

That time was recorded last year, however, and on current form there is every reason to believe that Smith, now at the top of her form, will be with them all the way home.