Gracehill athlete Roseanna McGuckian wins Euro Youth medals

Northern Ireland athlete Roseanna McGuckian produced a major breakthrough as she clinched 200m bronze at the European Youth Olympics in Holland.

Competing for Ireland, the Gracehill youngster, 15, improved her personal best of 24.42 in the final in Utrecht.

That cut .12secs off her previous best set at this year's Irish Schools Championship in Tullamore.

An hour later, McGuckin was part of the Irish 4x100m quartet which clinched gold in the Netherlands.

McGuckin was joined by Niamh McNicol, Laura-Ann Costello and Phoebe Murphy in the Irish team.

The Ballymena Academy student is coached by former Irish international sprinter Philip Snoddy and is attached to the City of Lisburn club.

On a great day for the Irish team in Utrecht, Leevale athlete Louise Shanahan won the 800m gold in a personal best time of 2:08.75.

Meanwhile, Newry athlete Aislinn Crossey has progressed to Saturday's 800m final at the European Junior Championships in Rieti.

Crossey maintained her series of personal bests this season as she clocked 2:05.50 to finish third in her semi-final which proved enough to earn a fastest loser's spot.

The Newry AC athlete's previous best was 2:06.43 set in Belfast last month.

Crossey's Irish team-mate Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner also qualified for Saturday's final after finishing second in her semi-final in 2:08.34.

The final takes place on Saturday at 16:15 BST.