Full marathon teams nominated for Olympics

Full marathon squads announced

Athletics Ireland is delighted to announce full marathon teams to be nominated for selection to the Olympic Council of Ireland for the Olympic Games this summer. 

Robert Heffernan will lead a strong team of 50km race walkers. Half marathon teams for the European Athletics Championships have also been picked.

The marathon and race walking nominations for selection to the Olympic Council of Ireland in alphabetical order are as follows:

50KM MEN'S RACE WALKS (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

NAME                         CLUB

Brendan Boyce           Letterkenny AC

Robert Heffernan        Togher AC

Alex Wright                Leevale AC

MEN'S MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

NAME                          CLUB

 Mick Clohisey            Raheny Shamrocks AC

 Paul Pollock   Annadale Striders AC

 Kevin Seaward          St Malachy's AC

1st Reserve: Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers AC)

2nd Reserve: Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF)

WOMEN'S MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

NAME                                      CLUB

 Breege Connolly        North Belfast AC

 Lizzie Lee       Leevale AC

 Fionnuala McCormack           Kilcoole AC

1st Reserve: Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast AC)

2nd Reserve: Barbara Sanchez (Clonliffe Harriers AC)

The Selections for the European Championships Half Marathon to take place in Amsterdam from the 6-10 July.

 MEN'S HALF MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

NAME                                      CLUB

Sergiu Ciobanu           Clonliffe Harriers AC

Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrocks AC

Mark Hanrahan           Leevale AC

Gary Murray   Clonliffe Harriers AC

Paul Pollock    Annadale Striders AC

Kevin Seaward           St Malachy's AC

WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

NAME                                  CLUB

Breege Connolly         North Belfast AC

Gladys Ganiel North Belfast AC

Maria McCambridge   Dundrum South Dublin AC

Claire McCarthy         Leevale AC

The five-person selection panel picked the athletes they believed to be capable of producing the best performance possible at the Olympic Games in August.

"I'm happy with the teams that we have selected," said High Performance Director Kevin Ankrom. "I believe the athletes chosen will be prepared to produce a performance to match their capabilities.

"It's never easy to tell some of the athletes that they aren't selected and I understand their disappointment.

"I believe we have picked the best team and I also look forward to good performances by teams at the European Championships in the half marathon. Athletes have raised the bar in their performances and that is very encouraging to see. We have also picked reserves and subject to illness or injury they can be selected for nomination by July 11th."

Athletes not selected have a right to appeal within 24 hours after the selections.