WATCH: Thomas Barr happy with national performance ahead of World Championships

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By Stephen Barry

Thomas Barr won his fifth national 400-metre Hurdles title on Day 2 of the Senior Track and Field Championships in Santry.

Barr is one of Ireland’s top prospects heading into the World Championships, and used today’s meet to sharpen up before Beijing:

“[I’m] glad to have gotten the title on the day and it’s a nice little tune-up, to get the legs spinning in the last race before I head out to Beijing,” he told Athletics Ireland TV.

“I was a little bit disheartened after my run in London, where I was off the boil a little bit but I’m getting back into form again. Another week’s training before we head into Beijing on a training camp in Hong Kong and then good to go hopefully!”

Barr came home in 49.68 seconds, ahead of Paul Byrne (50.72) and Brandon Arrey (54.78).

Meanwhile reigning 50km World Champion Rob Heffernan didn’t go the distance in the 10km Walk, as his training partner Alex Wright took the major honours in 40:04.29, just over a minute ahead of Brendan Boyle (41:16.25).

Heffernan was disqualified for lifting, receiving three warnings inside 5km, and will soon be heading for China to defend his title.

Mark English was another impressive performer, winning the 800 metres for a third time in 1:50.94. He beat Declan Murray (1:51.04) and Niall Tuohy (1:51.50) to the line.

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