Sarah Healy just misses out on medal in 5000m at European Athletics Championships

Michael Bolton

Sarah Healy has finished fourth in the women's 5000m final in the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Healy finished with a time of 15:40.95, as she just missed out on a medal in a thrilling end to what was a difficult race.

She was third with 800m to go, in what was an agonising end to the race for Healy.

Nadia Battocletti takes the win for Italy with a time of 15:37.84.

Spain's Martha Garcia secures silver, and Micol Majori pips Healy to the final podium spot, and she crosses the line in fourth.

Healy will have the 1500m to look forward to, where she will be confident of contending for a medal.

Speaking to RTÉ after the race, Healy said:“It was very difficult I guess, because it was so chaotic and packed. This was my second 5k (5,000m), so I haven’t ran like that.

“I’m very disappointed with fourth ... I know I gave it my best go but I just know that last few (hundred meters), it was just a bit of inexperience, I think, because I felt like I was coming on the home straight, but I find it hard to judge my effort in the 5k.

“For me it feels like 800 to go is a kick-finish, whereas in my normal race (1,500m) it’s still in the depths, so I’m always afraid of not having enough left. I think I could have just held my position. If I had been in a medal position coming into the home straight, I think I could have held on. But it’s easy to say that now, of course. It’s particularly disappointing.”