Robinson Fourth & 4x400m National Record & Irish Team Review

Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC) finished fourth in a chaotic 1500m final on the final day of the European Athletics Championships in Zurich. Robinson was joined in the final by team mate Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) in what turned out to be one of the most dramatic races of the championships.

Disaster struck for O’Lionaird on the penultimate lap of the race as due to the race being run at a slow pace the whole field were bunched together. O’Lionaird appeared to be caught from behind as he stumbled to the ground and was unable to finish.

O’Lionaird said “I just got stood on with 600m to go, I felt it on my right hamstring badly and then from there I got stood on to the back of my tendon. It’s disappointing you feel kind of hard done by, but that’s sport.”

Robinson on the other hand was having the race of his life as he mixed it with Europe’s best middle distance runners.  Due to the slow pace Robinson found himself caught on the inside lane for the majority of the race. However as the leaders hit the 1200m mark in 3.05.67,  Robinson began to motor as he cut through the field.

Robinson was holding third coming down the finishing straight in a dramatic last 100m. He gave everything over the last 100m and was only passed in the final few metres by Chris O’Hare of Great Britain. The race was won by Benabbad of France in a time of 3.45.60 with Robinson fourth in a time of 3.46.35

Robinson said “I think I did everything right it’s just one of those things, I had it and it got taken away from me. I am absolutely gutted. I knew I was in bronze medal position, I could sense the others around me, my legs just buckled. In time I’ll take confidence out of that, I kicked down some really good people. “

4x400m

Only 24 hours after breaking the twelve year old national record Ireland’s 4x400m relay team were contesting the final. Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Mark English (UCD AC), Richard Morrissey (Crusaders AC) and Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) produced an outstanding performance to break the national record in a brilliant time of 3.01.67.

Gregan led the quartet off with a strong opening leg as he powered around the track to hand over to European 800m bronze medallist English.

Gregan said “This is unbelievable; the average age of the team is something like 23 so to run that time is world class. That time should qualify us for European Indoors next year and with a team like this, it’s very exciting for the future.”

English took over on leg two and despite twinging his hamstring in the first 80m he continued on to keep Ireland well in contention.

English said “I had to draft as much as I could over that last 200m, I strained my hamstring slightly in the first 80m, luckily it didn’t affect me too much, I gave it my all in the last 100m. It’s a great team effort, delighted with the record.”

Morrissey and Barr both exceled during their two legs with Morrissey finishing strongest of all the third leg runners to pass over to Irish 400m Hurdles Record Holder Barr. Barr as always ran a class anchor leg to bring the team home in fifth place in a new national record of 3.01.67.

Irish Team Review

It was a very encouraging week for the Irish athletes with outstanding performances coming from Mark English in the 800m and Paul Robinson in the 1500m where they finished third and fourth respectively. The men’s 4x400m really stepped up to the mark breaking the national record on two occasions and finishing fifth in the final. Both Marathon Cup Teams had strong showings placing seventh in the team event. The team as a whole were competitive throughout the championships with many of the young athletes progressing through the rounds and recording personal bests.

High performance director Kevin Ankrom said “This has been a very encouraging championship for what is a very young Irish team.  Our athletes have been competitive all the way through the championships.  The standard at these Europeans have been extremely high and in that environment it’s been great to see our athletes making progress, as athletes, performers and competitors.  The whole team will have gained invaluable experience which they will need to take it to the next level. There have been more highs than lows this week and Mark’s medal was brilliant for himself,  for athletics and for Ireland.  We are all delighted for Mark, and very proud of his achievement. These championships are an important stepping stone on the road to Rio for our young team and this week’s performances put us in a good place and we will push on from here and build on this momentum.”