O'Connor sits second in European heptathlon after two events

After the opening two disciplines of the women's heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, Ireland's Kate O'Connor is in second place. The 25-year-old from Newry, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games, sits just one point behind Poland's Adrianna Sulek-Schubert. Sulek-Schubert leads the standings with 2,135 points after the morning session. Germany's Sophie Weissenberg is third with 2,074, while Switzerland's Annik Kalin is another 20 points adrift.

O'Connor opened with a personal best in the 100m hurdles. She finished fourth in her heat in 13.30 seconds, which placed her 11th overall. The heat was won by Lithuania's Beatrice Juskeviciute, who clocked a season best of 13.09, ahead of Italy's Sveva Gerevini and Weissenberg. In the high jump, O'Connor recorded another personal best, clearing 1.86m, a height matched by leader Sulek-Schubert.

The heptathlon continues on Friday evening with the shot put at 19:35 BST, followed by the 200m at 20:55.

Elsewhere for Ireland, Andrew Coscoran booked his place in the final of the men's 1500m after finishing fourth in his heat in 3:41.86. Cathal Doyle was left disappointed after falling during his heat; he lodged an appeal but did complete the race. In the relays, both Ireland's men's and women's 4x400m teams failed to reach their finals, with the men coming within one second of the national record.