Good Quality 3000m - Antrim Borough Council Senior Track & Field Championships Mick Clohissey followed up his recent p.b. over 5000 metres when he moved down to 3000 metres and recorded a fine run in Irishtown Stadium winning in 8.21.78.The popularity of the Development Series of races incorporated into the Dublin Graded Meetings was indicated by no fewer than 29 athletes running in two races. Donore s Philip Cavanagh moved quickly to the front of affairs and took the field through the first lap in a brisk 61 seconds. The main bunch however was reluctant to join him and passed through in a more modest 64 seconds. 2m 06s at 800metres and the field was about to join the early leader. John Coghlan seemed to be the one most anxious to keep up the tempo and he had a brief sojourn at the front. John Eves fresh from his victory in the Leinster 5000 on Sunday last was running more conservatively and it was 2000 metres before he made his way to the leading bunch. Conscious perhaps of the possibility of being outsprinted the Raheny man made a long run for home from the 600 mark and John Eves responded best as he chased him with Coghlan fading slightly at this stage. With the powerful striding Clohissey pulling away down the back straight the MSB man Coghlan began to regain ground but despite a closing back Mick Clohissey was never in danger as he ran faster than ever before to win in a very creditable 8.21.78 with John Coghlan knocking 12 seconds off his previous best to take second outrunning John Eves down the finish straight. P.B s were the order of the day as now fewer than 17 of the 19 starters will have had to rewrite their p.b. s after the race. On the evidence of this running Clohissey s performance over 10000 metres could be a very interesting one should he choose to run one. The second development race was dominated by Fingallians Sam Kelly who got inside 9 minutes for the first time and lead home almost the entire field in personal bests. Aoife Brady proved best in a very competitive womens 1500 metres just holding off Louise Reilly with Tekea Gebrezgi in third. Two of the mens 400 metres races were won by 800 metres men moving down. Schools Champion Anthony Lieghio clocked 50.58 with Darragh Greene winning the other A race in 50.86 Nick Davis PROVINCES TOP ATHLETES FOR ANTRIM British javelin international Michael Allen will be among the key names competing in this Saturday’s Antrim Borough Council Senior Track & Field Championships at the Antrim Forum (Finals start at 12:30pm). The event is organised by governing body Athletics Northern Ireland and the Ulster Athletics Council. Abbey athlete Allen has just been selected for the GB & NI team in the European Cup in Annecy next weekend. His selection followed an impressive 76.38m throw at Loughborough in mid May- his best for two years. With this sort of form it is not inconceivable that Allen could again challenge his own NI record of 79.55m which he set in those championships 2 years ago. The Men’s track events provide an interesting blend of youth and experience. In the 100m 31 year old Paul Brizzel of Ballymena will be trying to capture yet another title from Scottish title holder Nick Smith. However Brizzel lost out to Smith by a half second margin in Bedford 2 weeks ago so the Scotsman is firm favourite to retain his title with schools champion Scott Hamilton and Dean Adams also in contention. The 400 metres should be one of the highlight events with new Lagan Valley sensation Curtis Woods facing fierce opposition from team mate Jason Harvey, age group champion Patrick Bogues of Omagh and Belgrave’s Louis Evling-Jones. 16 year old Woods who has the fastest recent time of 48.29secs when setting a new Irish Schools record may prove to be one of the youngest champions of the day. Ballymena’s Steven Morrow is one of the favourites for the 800m following his recent sub 1.52 PB but he will have to be at his best to defeat Slovakia’s Branislav Bundzik who finished 3rd behind James McIlroy at the Odyssey earlier this year. Steeplechase specialist Noel Collins should also feature along with North Down’s Michael Dyer and Lagan Valley’s Simon McCluney. Age Group champion Ryan Faulkner has opted for the 1500m event. In the women’s 100 metres North Down’s Amy Foster is firm favourite to retain her title following her recent bronze medal in the Inter-Counties. A year ago Amy caused a major upset when defeating Ballymena’s indoor record holder Anna Boyle. She will have to get the better of English Schools hurdles champion Nicola Hill and Melbourne Commonwealth silver medallist Geraldine Pillay. Foster could be a double winner if she races over 200m with Irish Schools champion Hannah Lewis of North Down fighting it out with Slovakia’s Iveta Pvtacova for the minor places. Lewis should however be firm favourite to take the long jump title following the late withdrawal of British International Jade Johnson. The women’s 800 metres will once again provide an interesting clash between defending champion Kelly Reid of Lisburn and Inter Counties 5000m champion Kerry Harty of Newcastle. While Reid has suffered from a series of persistent injuries her recent time from Manchester should be sufficient to defeat the ever versatile Kerry. Finally in the Men’s Hammer, Woodford’s Andy Frost who was 4th in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games is firm favourite especially after his throe of 66.74m in Bedford 2 weeks ago. The women’s event should go to Edinburgh’s Susan McKelvie who threw 57.18m in Loughborough in mid May. Also competing is Windsor based Bolanle Ogun who finished 4th in the recent Inter Counties. Timetable of Events