Long jumper Abigail Irozuru feels early Euro exit sums up season

By Will Jennings in Munich Abigail Irozuru reckons her early multi-sport European Championship exit summed up her season after struggling for confidence in Munich. Ad The Sale Harriers long jumper finished 10th in her heat on Tuesday to round off an inconsistent few months in the pit. AthleticsMunich crowd spurs Sawyers onto European Championship finalAN HOUR AGO Irozuru, 32, could only muster a 12th-place finish at the Commonwealth Games before showing signs of mental fragility in Germany.

She failed to qualify by almost half a metre and admits she needs to go back to the drawing board to get her career back on track. Irozuru said: «I think it has been the pattern of the year. »I am just not trusting my runway.

«Clearly that third round pressure is sometimes a bit too much when you don't back yourself. »It is what it is, it's disappointing but it's something I need to work on." British team-mate Jahisha Thomas progressed with a jump of 6.57m while in the other group, Stoke star Jazmin Sawyers finished fourth behind home favourite and Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, Ukrainian Maryna Ekh-Romanchuk and super Serb Milica Gardasevic. Sawyers, 28, admits she was struggling for motivation after the Commonwealth Games but the magical Munich crowd roaring on Mihambo helped haul her into the final.

The former European silver medallist, who narrowly missed out on a medal in Birmingham after a ninth-place finish at the World Championships, said: «I have been ultimately disappointed with the results of the two Championships so far this summer. »That feeling of trying to drag myself back up to the level where I am excited to compete has been really tough. «This crowd helped today.