Athletics European ChampionshipsFirst rule of championship running: don't read too much into the heats. Second rule of championship running: don't read too little into the heats. Both rules apply to Ireland's two medal hopes as the European championships head towards their climax.
We didn't expect to learn a whole lot more about Derval O'Rourke and Alistair Cragg after their heats in Gothenburg yesterday, and we didn't.
O'Rourke did all she needed to do to qualify for this evening's semi-finals of the 100 metres hurdles, with that final a short while later.
And Cragg practically walked his way into Sunday's 5,000 metres final - both clearly aware the serious business of winning medals comes next.
O'Rourke was on the track in the late morning and admitted to feeling a bit sleepy. Not that it mattered, as the world indoor champion eased through in second place, clocking 13.03. She was nicely rewarded for that with lane six in the second semi-final. The first four in each progress to the final, just an hour and 40 minutes later.
If we read too much into the heats then the gold medal is already around the neck of Sweden's famous hurdling twin Susanna Kallur. She looked awesome in her heat, winning in 12.70. Next best was Germany's Kirsten Bolm, who won her heat in 12.83.
After that there are four other medal contenders: Russia's Aleksandra Antonova, Spain's defending champion Glory Alozie, Poland's Aurelia Trywianska, and O'Rourke - although that could be reading too little into the heats. There could be others.
Anyway, O'Rourke was typically cool and confident after easing home behind Antonova, who won the heat in 12.94. "I felt very relaxed," said the Cork athlete, "maybe even a little sleepy. I knew the Russian was going hard, but there was no point in trying to run her down today.
"This is the first time I've been at a major championship where I could play the first round safe, and then really let rip in the semi-final and final. So I took no chances out there. I'll take chances from here on, because I'll need to."
O'Rourke will have Kallur to her left this evening, with Trywianska in lane three, and French athlete Adrianna Lamalle in lane four. There won't be much room for error, but going on form those four should progress.
Sweden's other famous hurdling twin, Jenny Kallur, goes in the first semi-final, and depending on how she responds to the home support, could be another threat for a medal.
If O'Rourke does progress she'll almost certainly need to improve her Irish record of 12.85 to challenge for a medal. Otherwise she could be run out of it. "I know I need to run 12.7 or a high 12.6," she admitted. "I still feel I can do that. I've been feeling very relaxed. And I still don't feel any pressure. I haven't run a major outdoor final before, so I've really nothing to lose."
Speaking of pressure, all Swedish eyes will be on Susanna Kallur, who has run 12.52 this summer. Even O'Rourke has a little sympathy for her: "We've chatted a bit, and I'd like if we could finish first and second. And I know the order I'd like. But I could hear the cheer for her in the heat before mine, so I wouldn't like to be in her shoes."
It's rare for a sprints hurdles final to go exactly on form - as O'Rourke proved in Moscow last March - although it counts for a little more in 5,000 metres running. Cragg's form hasn't been the most consistent this summer, but all his training has been geared towards Gothenburg, and he looked bang on form yesterday evening.
Only a handful of runners were eliminated from the two heats, but Cragg was happy to get the run - taking third in his heat in 13:50.12. "Yeah, very nice to have that heat," he said. "Just to feel competitive again, and focus on how I may need to run the final. I can't say I felt very smooth, because that's not my race pace, 67s. I don't even train that slow."
The leading runners played with each other over the final laps - but it was still obvious where Cragg's main threat lies on Sunday. The Spanish trio, led by 1,500 metre bronze medallist Juan Higuero, have the big kicks, and Britain's young hope, Mo Farah, won't mind the fast pace.
"I'd like to get this team a medal," added Cragg. "That's my main aim. I know the strengths of the Spaniards. And I know they won't hide their tactics. They like to let you know, with surges or whatever. But whatever they do I'll be ready for. I respect them, and all the other runners, but I'll be thinking about my own tactics.
"For a 1,500 metre runner to kick at the end of 5,000 metres is not easy. So they're going to feel pain they've never felt before. I've just got to remind them this is my event. And I can close a 5,000 in 54 or 53 if needed."
Now that sort of confidence is worth getting excited about.
