O’Donnell races up European Rankings

Chris O'Donnell in action

Chris O'Donnell in action. Image: Still Sport Photography

Loughborough Scholar and Irish International Chris O’Donnell set a new 400m PB of 45.55 seconds in Lucerne, Switzerland, when he came 2nd to World Record holder Wayde van Niekerk.

O’Donnell smashed his previous best by 0.31 seconds and he now sits just outside the European top 10 rankings for 2021. His PB and storming performance certainly helped cement his place in the mixed 4 x 400m team in Tokyo.

O’Donnell was part of the quartet that secured qualification for Ireland at the World Athletics Relay Championships earlier this year, and as he sits at the top of the Irish rankings for the 400m, it is hoped he will pair up nicely with fellow Irish athlete Thomas Barr who already has the Olympic qualifying standard for the 400m hurdles.