Women’s Relay Team Fifth in World Relays

A national record (to be ratified) and a fifth-place finish in the women’s 4x200m highlighted the first day for the Irish at the World Relays in the Bahamas last night.

The quartet of Amy Foster, Steph Creaner, Sarah Lavin and Phil Healy ran 1:36.90 in a race which was won by Nigeria in 1:30.52.

“We’re happy with that, because one of the exchanges didn’t go well for us,” said Lavin afterwards. “It’s great to have the chance to run on this stage, and hopefully we’ll be able to put in a good performance tomorrow night too.”

The team will also compete tonight, in the heats of the 4x100m, at 12:29am Irish time.

For Ireland’s men’s 4x400m team, which was eliminated in sixth place in their heat in 3.07.11, the race had to simply be chalked down as experience. 

“It was tough enough,” said Thomas Barr, who ran the second leg in a blazing 45.13 seconds. “I thought we could have got a quicker time, but we all gave it our all, so we can’t ask for more than that. It’s really good to have a team here.”

Craig Lynch ran the first leg for the team, and was visibly disappointed with the final result. “It’s not the best team performance but it’s a start,” he said. “We’ll learn a lot from it and build on it and move forward.”

While disappointed with his performance, Brian Murphy believed it was an essential stepping stone to future successes. “It was the first Irish senior team at this level in 12 years. You have to come to these events to get experience, otherwise you’ll go to an event you really need to perform at and not get a result. It wasn’t a good day, but this isn’t the end of the world.

Richard Morrissey was also disappointed. “It was a wicked atmosphere, but it was very hard,” he said. “I’m just sorry we couldn’t’ be a bit more competitive. We still have time though.”

Elsewhere at the New Balance IMC meet in Greystones Garbhan McKenna in a miserable, wet and cold conditions ran 14.26 to win the 110m Hurdles just outside the A (14.25) but inside the B (14.45) for the European Junior Championships. While in the 5000m Kevin Mulcaire Ennis  (14.08.65) and Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea  (14.23.97) both hit standards. While Ciara Neville  hit the EYOF standard in the winning the 100m with 11.92.