Amy Foster sets new NI 200m record at University Games

Amy Foster

Irish sprint star Amy Foster broke her own 200 metres record when she stormed through to tomorrow's semi-finals in the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.

The Bangor woman sliced 0.05 secs off the time she set last June in Turkey to record new figures of 23.53 secs. In Foster's first round heat she showed no adverse effects from the disappointment of just missing out on a place in the 100 metres final the previous day.

She was always in the top three and slowed towards the finish to qualify in second place in 24.08 secs behind winner Aareon Payne of the US who won in 23.94 secs.

Amy was clearly reserving her energies for the second round where she blasted off from the gun and was joint leader with Jamaica's Anneisha McLaughlin until the last few metres.

The Jamacian crossed the line in 23.52 secs with Foster just 0.01secs slower and Britain's AAA's bronze medalist Margaret Adeoye a distant 3rd in 23.94 secs.

Amy said; "The Jamaican wouldn't let me past so I eased off over the last 10 metres.I felt brilliant !" This upbeat comment clearly shows that the 22 year old could well smash her new record again in the semi.

Her time also places her 3rd fastest of the 16 qualifiers for the semis behind McLaughlin and Russia's Anna Kaygorodova who leads with 23.45 secs.

The one unknown factor is whether Amy will have the necessary strength to cope with her 5th and possibly 6th race in the space of 4 days. All the signs from yesterday are indicating that she has.

Click here for a summary of the 200m results