Robinson runs new personal best in the Dream Mile at a blazing Bislett Games

Paul Robinson was the highlight performance of the three Irish athletes competing at the exciting ExxonMobil Bislett Games Diamond League in Oslo, Norway last night and ran a new personal best of 3:54.77 in the fabled Dream Mile.

Robinson mixed with the world’s best milers in a top class field with world indoor 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman coming out on top in 3:49.49.

“I’m getting close to a big breakthrough,” said Robinson (St Coca’s) trackside after the race who was running his second Diamond League in six days. “It’s just that last 200m. If I can sort that out then I’m on for a big one. I was hurting out there but it’s good to be running my second Diamond League in six days and hopefully I’ll get more opportunities.”

Earlier in the meet Laura Crowe finished second in the national 1500m in a tactical race in 4:17.46 – won by Charlotta Fougberg in 4:13.58. “I was hoping for more and wanted to win the race,” said the disappointed An Riocht athlete afterwards. “I shouldn’t have been so far behind at the finish but I’ll have to move on.”

UCD’s Sarah Lavin was unlucky in the women’s 100m hurdles clipping the second last hurdle and had to settle for second in 13.60 seconds.  “I know I’m in personal best shape,” said Lavin who also had to contend with a –2.8 m/s headwind. “I’m surprised I hit the hurdle going into the headwind but there’s definitely more there.”

Lavin is still aiming to run a European (development athlete) standard of 13.38 which will surely follow with more favourable conditions and clean run over the hurdles. 

Lavin is set to race again at EAP meet in Geneva, Switzerland  on  Saturday 14th . Recently crowned new Irish record holder Tom Barr set to line-up in the 400m Hurdles as well as his sister Jessie. Sprinters Phil Healy and Steven Colvert are also set to compete.

Irish sprint relay teams will also be competing;  with the top 16 ranked European relay team gaining qualification for the European championships, the Irish Men’s Senior 4x100m team will be looking to improve on their current European ranking of 28th. The women’s team are currently ranked 13th and will look to strengthen their position in this run out. While the Junior Men’s 4x100m team will be chasing the qualification standard for the World Junior Track and Field Championships of 40.10.  The men’s team (Senior or Junior) with the best relay time by June 16 will be selected for the European Team Cup.

Rose Anne Gilligan is set to compete in the 800m at the Iberoamericano Huelva meet in Spain on Thursday 12th June.

Also in action last night  was David Mc Carthy at the Nijmegen Global Athletics  Nijmegen meet in the  Netherlands. McCarthy finished fourth in the 1500m with  3:39.94 the race was won by Ronald Musagala in   3:37.7. While at the Loughborough Students AC Open Meeting  Loughborough Olive Black was just piped to the post running in the 100m for second 10.81  with Peter Shand  winning in 10.80. Brian Murphy recorded another solid performance in the 400m running 47. 43 at the Anhalt Meeting  in Germany