PITREAVIE AAC star Eilidh Doyle is through to the European Championship final after winning her 400 metre hurdles semi-final last night.

The 31-year-old, who was running in only her third race since winning a silver medal at April's Commonwealth Games, eased to victory ahead of Belgium's Hanne Claes.

Doyle, who became European champion in Zurich four years ago, enjoyed a strong run of 55.16 seconds to qualify for tomorrow's final as the fourth-quickest athlete overall.

After the race, she commented: "I'm feeling a bit better now on my running than I have.

"It's only my third race since the Commonwealths so I was pretty nervous, and usually I like the heats to get that nervousness out of my system, but I didn't get that opportunity as I was up against the top girls in Europe so had to be on my A game."

Although she won silver on the Gold Coast, Doyle - who is competing in a record-equalling fifth European Championship with Great Britain - had been managing a calf muscle injury picked up earlier in the year.

It caused her to miss June's British Athletics Championships as she focused on recovering ahead of selections being confirmed for the Europeans in Berlin.

She returned to action at the Muller Anniversary Games in London, before winning at the Karlstad Grand Prix in Sweden, and was given a bye through qualifying into the semi-final.

Doyle, who is also likely to run in Saturday's 4x400m relay, will run in the final at 7.50pm.