A season’s best over 400 metres was just enough to earn Sophie Becker a place in the semi-finals at the European Championships in Birmingham, the Dublin athlete running a neatly balanced race to nail third place in Wednesday morning’s qualifying heats.After a troubled start to the season with illness and injury, Becker has come back into form at the right time, her 52.28 seconds eclipsing her season best of 52.36, and enough to see her through into Thursday’s semi-finals (12.45pm).Across the three opening round heats, the top 13 fastest times all progressed, with Becker’s heat won by Eveline Saalberg from the Netherlands in 51.65. All six athletes in the last heat ran faster, but Becker ended up ranked 13th from across the three heats, thus getting another run.The 29-year-old was Ireland’s sole representative in the 400m, after the withdrawal through injury of Rachal McCann and then Sharlene Mawdsley. The morning session continues with the heats of the women’s 200m, featuring Lauren Roy, with Rhasidat Adeleke getting a bye into the semi-finals later this evening. Then at 12.20pm, Mark English goes in the semi-finals of the 800m.