Inspired form from both the men’s and women’s teams at the European Cup has been the highlight of the current outdoor track and field season. Promotion for the men to division 1 and a best-ever placing of 4th in division 1 for the women were highly noteworthy. It was a dramatic win in the final event on the programme the 4x400 relay which enabled Ireland (109 points) to overcome Denmark (108 points) and Israel (108 points). It was appropriate that this climactic conclusion came from the best performance of the weekend from the men’s 4x400 with a time of 3.07.06 ( Brian Murphy, Antoine Burke , Paul McKee, David Gillick ). While the men were doing their heroics in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia the women in Prague were producing a steady stream of quality performances which resulted in that historic 4th placing. National records were furnished in the 4x100 metres 44.40 (Emily Maher, Anna Boyle, Ailis McSweeney,Ciara Sheehy );4x 400 3.31.51 ( Michelle Carey, Elaine McCaffrey, Ciara Sheehy, Joanne Cuddihy ); high jump 1.89 metres Deirdre Ryan. In addition to anchoring the relay team Joanne Cuddihy ran a superb new best time in the 400 metres in 51.63 to push her into 13th place in the current European rankings. The outstanding individual performance in this very early athletic season was the European leading time for 5000 metres of 13.08.97 for Alistair Cragg. Much attention is now being focused on Alistair for the European championships. While he is deservedly a leading contender one cannot but be impressed by a clutch of recent performances over the distance by Spanish athletes. Elsewhere that hotbed of competition that is the NCAA championships saw three Irish athletes produce outstanding performances in Sacramento, California. In a tactical race Sligo’s Mary Cullen was a comfortable winner of the 5000 metres in 16.01.39. Earlier in the season Mary achieved a qualifying standard for Gothenburg of 32.39.59 for 10,000 metres. Martin Fagan, Mullingar finished a splendid 2nd in the 10,000 metres in Sacramento in 28.41.41 and earned qualification also for the Europeans. Martin has a 5000 metres qualifying time of 13.39.62 from Walnut California in April .A 6th place in the final in a new personal best time of 1.47.64 from Thomas Chamney saw him edge closer to the 1.47.20 qualifying time for Gothenburg. On the European circuit David Gillick ran a new personal best for 400 metres of 45.80. This performance ranks him 8th in Europe and we are sure to see further improvement from the European indoor champion as the season unfolds. Biggest breakthrough on the men’s side has been the 1500 metres by Liam Reale of 3.38.65 which is a four seconds improvement on his previous best .Following on from a good indoor season James Nolan has run a 3.38.51 for 1500 metres which ranks him high in Europe. It was also welcome news to see leading sprinter Paul Hession who was 3rd in the World University games last year running 20.96 into the wind over 200 metres. It seems aeons since the talented but seriously injury prone Keith Kelly based in Providence, USA competed on the track but in Stanford USA on the 31st March he bounced back to form running 28.44.33 for 10,000 metres to qualify for the European championships. Another comeback of sorts came from David Campbell who ran 1.48.88 for 800 metres and went on to win the European Cup 1500 metres. And what about Paul McKee former world indoor 400 metres 3rd placer slowly coming back to form after various ailments to clock 21.15 for 200 metres and 46.77 for 400 metres.Finally on the men’s side it would be seriously remiss not to mention the great victory of national cross country champion Vinny Mulvey in the AAA’s 10,000 metres in 28.58.29 in sweltering conditions at Watford. We mentioned earlier the form over 400 metres of Joanne Cuddihy and it is interesting to record a new best over 200 metres of 23.74 and also some good running over 100 metres. Improvement also came from Michelle Carey over the 400 metres hurdles with 56.52 which puts her 24th on the European list. A massive improvement in the steeplechase saw 21 year old Fionnuala Britton run 9.53.61 to push for the first time into the European lists at 21st place. Marie Davenport has posted qualifying times for both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres for Europe while Karen Shinkins who has a high level of consistency for many years over 400 metres ran 51.93.Ciara Sheehy who ran a phenomenal 200 metres indoors of 23.20 is improving in every race as evidenced by a season’s best for 3rd in the European Cup and would be expected to at least replicate that time outdoors. Another athlete prone to injury Aoife Byrne has brought her 1500 metres time down to 4.14.08 is set to get inside the 4.13.00 European standard in the near future . Our 4th placer in the European Junior steeplechase and European Cross Country Linda Byrne has shown excellent speed on the track with a 4.17.63 for 1500 metres. A breakthrough for Sharon Heveron in the high jump with 1.86 metres to qualify for next year’s European under 23’s is a great boost to that event following Deirdre Ryan’s senior record. Yet to make their seasonal debuts due to various problems are world indoor 60 metres hurdles champion Derval O’Rourke; long jump record holder Ciaran McDonagh and high jumper Adrian O’Dwyer.It is hoped all will be fit later in the season. In the next few weeks the action domestically will focus on the Bupa Cork City Sports on July 1st and then two days later to the Lee Strand Riocht International in Castleisland from which it is expected several updates on seasonal best performances will be posted. The list below showing Irish athletes in the European top 30 gives an early season indication of the current standing of our athletes in Europe. Irish Athletes European Top 30 (at 20th June )
Event Position Performance Name 5000 metres 1st 13.08.97 Alistair Cragg 1500 metres 5th 3.38.51 James Nolan 400 metres 8th 45.8 David Gillick 1500 metres 8th 3.38.65 Liam Reale 5000 metres 11th 13.39.62 Martin Fagan 400 metres 13th 51.63 Joanne Cuddihy 10000 metres 18th 32.39.59 Mary Cullen 400 metres 19th 51.93 Karen Shinkins 5000 metres 19th 15.41.43 Mary Cullen 3000 s/chase 21st 9.53.61 Fionnuala Britton 5000 metres 21st 15.44.24 Sonia O'Sullivan 10000 metres 21st 28.41.11 Martin Fagan 5000 metres 22nd 15.44.24 Marie Davenport 10000 metres 22nd 28.44.33 Keith Kelly 10000 metres 22nd 32.44.38 Marie Davenport 400 m hurdles 24th 56.52 Michelle Carey High Jump 27th= 1.89 Deirdre Ryan 200 metres 28th 20.98 ( -1.6 ) Paul Hession 800 metres 29th 1.47.64 Thomas Chamney
