GloHealth National Championships men’s distance preview

The GloHealth National Track and Field Championships take place this weekend (August 8/9). You can find the timetable here and the provisional entry list here. Below is the men's distance preview. 

800m: English primes for world championships

UCD’s Mark English is the overwhelming for the 800m as he gears up for the World Track and Field Championships in Beijing. Declan Murray (Clonliffe Harriers) looks like the most likely challenger with Karl Griffin (UCD) down for the 400m. Griffin has an eye on a 4x400m relay spot. Others in contention over two laps Niall Tuohy (Ferrybank), Kieran Kelly (Raheny Shamrock) and Mark Hoy (Finn Valley).

1500m: Everard looks for second national title

Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) will be looking to win his second national 1500m title on Sunday. Everard won his first title in 2013 and will face competition from John Travers (Donore Harriers). Travers is down for the 1500m and the 5,000m but is leaning towards the metric mile. Other likely suspects include Joe Warne (Doheny), Daire Bermingham, (Raheny Shamrock) and James O’Hare (Annadale Striders).

5,000m: Batt looks to repeat

Kevin Batt (DSD) is odds on to retain the 5,000m title he won last year. The DSD man finished 9th at the World Universities Championships and looks to have the better of rivals on the entry list. Brandon Hargreaves (DSD), David Rooney, Conor Dooney (both Raheny Shamrock) will look to be in contention. Emmett Dunleavy (Sligo) is another likely to be in the mix if he doesn’t run in the 3,000m steeplechase.  

10,000m: Clohisey vs Christie

The 10,000m is set for a straight showdown between Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) and Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers). Clohisey has been to the fore on the road, cross and track and finished second in the national half marathon championships last weekend. He’ll be looking to go one better this weekend and retain his 10,000m crown.  

3,000m steeplechase: Battle of the Cs – Cotter, Chesser, Coghlan

Tomas Cotter (Dunleer) is the warm favourite for the steeplechase having run  3:58.50 for the mile at the Morton Games but Rory Chesser (Ennis Track) is rounding into form at the right time. Chesser is a multiple winner of the ‘chase and it looks like being the most exciting distance race on the men’s programme with John Coghlan (Metro St Brigid’s) also on the startlist. Jayme Rossiter (Clonliffe Harriers) and Emmett Dunleavy could also be in the mix.  

Heffernan's champion return

Defending world 50km race walk champion Robert Heffernan (Togher) will compete in the 10,000m race walk alongside fellow internationals Alex Wright (Leevale) and Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny). All three are Beijing bound later this month. Wright will be looking to mount a challenge to Heffernan as they fine-tune their preparations for the world championships.