Plymouth athlete Edwards reached European Masters Indoor Champs final

PLYMOUTH athlete Neal Edwards finished fifth in the men’s 400m at the recent European Masters’ Indoor Championships in Madrid.

Edwards is better known as a 400m hurdler and won silver in that event in the over-45 category at last year’s outdoor European Masters’ Championships.

Competing in the same age group in Madrid, the Royal Navy athlete, who is a coach at City of Plymouth AC, progressed through the heats and semi-finals to reach the 400m flat final.

He easily won his heat in 56.16 seconds before clocking 54.48 seconds to finish second in his semi.

In a competitive final that was dominated by Spain and Great Britain, Edwards clocked 54.53 seconds.

Spain’s Juan Luis Lopez Anaya won, with GB athletes Michael Gardiner and Edwards Betts taking silver and bronze.

Meanwhile, Tavistock athlete Tess Masselink enjoyed a good second track outing in America.

She clocked 4:41.80 to finish fifth in the women’s invitational 1,500m race at the Weems Baskin Relays Meet in Columbia, South Carolina.  Masselink, competing for the College of Charleston, was the first freshman athlete.