Sweeney and McHugh - Irish Throwers On The Rise Once Again

13 July 2004

20-Time National javelin Champion and 4-Time Summer Olympian Terry McHugh threw a season's best of 75.57m in Meilen, Switzerland on July 11th. His winning effort was another step forward in a steadily improving season following his injury-effected 2003. McHugh is now within striking of the Olympic B standard of 77.80m while a throw in the range of his National Record of 82.75m would be needed to surpass the tough A standard of 81.80m.

McHugh's latest performance comes in the wake of the news from the U.S. that 36-year-old Nick Sweeney had achieved an Olympic A standard in the discus on July 4th. His throw of 64.12m a remarkable achievement under any circumstances; even more so considering Sweeney's three-year absence from the sport following his retirement after the Sydney Olympics. He is the National Record holder with a throw of 67.89m set in 1998, and his recent throw puts him right in the mix for the Olympics as less than 30 athletes worldwide have achieved the discus A standard of 64.00m in 2004.