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4x400m relay ends in incredible sprint finish as UCC athlete Phil Healy secures miracle victory before painful faceplant

Phil Healy won the Irish Universities Athletics Association Championships for University College Cork in stunning circumstances

Jack de Menezes
Tuesday 19 April 2016 15:30 BST
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The Irish Universities Athletics Association (IUAA) Championships saw one of the most incredible finishes ever seen in athletic in its 4x400m relay event that prompted the commentary team to lose complete control over the final 100m.

As the video shows, the University College Dublin took a 30m lead into the final leg of Sunday’s race with their rivals languishing behind and the gold appeared to be in the bag.

However, slowly but surely the gap began to reduce, and as “future Olympian” Michelle Finn charged down the race leader, she took the lead with 150m to go. But it soon transpired that Finn was out on her feet, and as one of the commentators noticed, one of her opponents was charging her down “from the depths of hell”.

Out of nowhere though came Phil Healy of the University College Cork, and having started the lap fifth she sprints past Finn on the finish to clinch an incredible victory before falling on the line and hitting her face heavily on the track.

Healy took to Twitter after the race to admit her delight at getting the victory and also poke fun at her own fall, writing: Hello lactic. Great to run the last leg for @uccathletics 4x4 and end up getting the win...And also a few grazes.”

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