ATHELETICS: Karen Shinkins remains on course for a medal at the European Indoor Championships, which opened in Vienna yesterday.

Despite the obvious pressure now on Shinkins, there was never once a threat of her failing to live up to expectations. With just two races necessary to determine the finalists, there was some added urgency about her opening run but she delivered the smoothest of victories in 51.90 seconds - her second-fastest indoor time after that stunning Irish record of 51.58 set last month.

Shinkins breezed past the emerging British runner Catherine Murphy around the last bend. Murphy finished a close second (51.95) and is sure to be in the mix come tomorrow's final (1 p.m. Irish time), but the confidence with which Shinkins performed suggests it will take something special to beat her.

"It is a different feeling coming here as one of the favourites," said the Newbridge athlete. "But I do believe I am a serious threat here and I am able to live with that."

There will also be a serious threat from the Russian athlete Natalya Antyukh, who won the first heat in a notably faster 51.39.

She finished a long way ahead of second-placed Claudia Marx of Germany (52.13) and it seems certain the title will be decided between Shinkins and the Russian.

Ireland may also challenge for a medal in the men's 400 metres. Both Tomas Coman and David McCarthy came through yesterday's first round heats and, if they reproduce that form later today, are capable of reaching tomorrow's final.

Coman produced a sensational run, recording an Irish record of 46.49 just five days after McCarthy - still a junior - lowered it to 46.66. It ensured Coman a close second place and comfortable qualification, with Poland's Marek Plawgo winning the heat in 46.46.

McCarthy (18) then followed with another second placing and time of 47.07, with the Czech Jiri Muzik winning in 46.77.

Robert Daly missed out by finishing fifth in the last of the five heats, clocking 47.75.

Peter Coghlan also progressed into the semi-finals of the 60 metre hurdles. He came third in his heat in 7.72 and lines up in this afternoon's semi-finals with Britain's title favourite Colin Jackson, who progressed in 7.55 seconds.

James Nolan produced a fine run in the semi-finals of the 1,500 metres and now hopes to go one better than the silver he took home from Ghent two years ago.

In a tight race, he made no mistake in qualifying for this afternoon's final, clocking three minutes 40.78. Only inches separated the top five, with Nolan taking fourth behind Britain's Michael East (3:40.78).

After setting a personal best of 23.34 in the morning heats of the women's 200 metres, Ciara Sheehy finished third in her semi-final in 23.6, which left her just short of a place in the final. Sarah Reilly finished fourth in her semi-final in 23.90.

Gary Ryan ran a season's best of 21.34 in his 200 metre heats but failed to progress.

MEN'S 200m ( 1st Round) - Heat 1: 1 A Attene (Ita) 20.87, 2 L Djhone (Fra) 20.90, 3 G Ryan (Irl) 21.34; Heat 2: 1 D Caines (Brit) 20.67, 2 A Marcoullides (Cyp) 20.79, 3 J Vojtik (Cze) 21.22, 4 T Comyns (Irl) 21.73.

MEN'S 400m ( 1st Round) - Heat 1: 1 M Plawgo (Pol) 46.46, 2 T Coman (Irl) 46.49 (NR); Heat 2: 1 J MUZIK (Cze) 46.77; 2 D McCarthy (Irl) 47.07; Heat 5: 1 J Laursen (Swe) 46.18 (NR); 5 R Daly (Irl) 47.75.

MEN'S 1500m (1st Round) - 1 M East (Brit) 3:40.52, 2 A Zadorozhniy (Rus) 3:40.60, 3 JC Higuero (Spa) 3:40.67, 4 J Nolan (Irl) 3:40.78.

MEN'S 60m HURDLES (1st round) - 1 S Olijars (Lat) 7.61, 2 K Mehlich (Pol) 7.71, 3 Peter Coghlan (Irl) 7.72.

MEN'S LONG JUMP (qualifying group): 10 C McDonagh (Irl) 7.62.

WOMEN'S 200m(1st Round) - Heat 1: 1 S Felix (Fra) 23.36, 2 S Reilly (Irl) 23.72; Heat 2: 1 A Ivanova-Guner (Tur) 23.15, 2 F Dia (Fra) 23.27, 3 C Sheehy (Irl) 23.34; Semi-final 1: 1 G Rockmeier (Ger) 23.06; 5 S Reilly (Irl) 23.90; Semi-final 2: 1 M Hurtis (Fra ) 22.71; 3 C Sheehy (Irl) 23.62.

WOMEN's 400m (1st Round) - Heat 1: 1 N Antyukh (Rus) 51.39; Heat 2: 1 K Shinkins (Irl) 51.90, 2 C Murphy (Brit) 51.95.

WOMEN's HIGH JUMP (qualification: 1 I Mykhalchenko (Ukr) 1.92; 16 D Ryan (Irl) 1.84.