Erin Friel and Ireland girls reach EYOF medley relay final - with a national record

Erin Friel has helped Ireland into the girls medley relay final at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).

Friel, who won the individual bronze earlier in the week, ran the 400m leg as the Irish quartet won the second heat in 2:09.20 - a new national U18 record.

The girls in green finished ahead of Portugal (2:10.04) and France (2:10.50) to seal a place in the final.

Friel was joined by Destiny Lawal, Molly Daly and Ellis McHugh.

Ireland go into the final as the third ranked of the qualifiers for Saturday morning’s final at the Toše Proeski Arena in Skopje.

On Tuesday morning, Letterkenny AC’s Friel, who is coached by Kathryn McDevitt, won 400m bronze when finishing in a new personal best, 54.02 seconds.

The Loreto Secondary School student and Newtowncunningham native said:  “It feels amazing. To come away with a medal now, that just gives me so much hope for the future. This is what I want to do and this is where I want to be.”

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Finn Valley AC’s Dermot McGranaghan is also in Skopje as coach to the Irish athletics team at the EYOF.