James Nolan continued his great start to the 2006 season in Ghent this weekend achieving the World Indoor Qualification Standard over 3000m with an 8 second personal best of 7:52.84. In achieving this time James has secured his place in both the 1500m and the 3000m for the World Indoors. Full team announced later today. Also in Ghent Ciara Sheehy continued her fantastic return to form winning the 200m in 23.44. David McCarthy concluded his preparations for the World Indoor Championships winning in the Birmingham Games in a time of 47.02. The National Championships in Santry on Saturday proved a cool but exciting affair with the men’s 12k undoubtedly the race of the day. The initial group of 8 men was eventually broken down by youngster Mark Christie, and in the final stages of the race Vinnie Mulvey showed his strength and pulled away winning his first National Title. Mark Christie finished gallantly in 2nd place, an outstanding performance for the youngster only in his second year out of junior age group. Third place went to Killian Lonergan. The women’s race was dominated by Moscow bound Maria McCambridge and Rosie Ryan and in the latter stages of the race Mc Cambrdige eased ahead and won convincingly in a time of 28.05. The junior races threw up great surprises with 16 year old Sara Louise Treacy taking the junior women’s title proving her strength over Roseanne Galligan, and Stephen Scullion of North Belfast Harriers taking the Junior Men’s race from Rory Chesser of Ennis Track Club and Eoin Healy of Dundrum South Dublin third. The team for the upcoming World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka Japan will be announced tomorrow Tuesday. There was an Irish one-two at the at the Isle of Man Grand Prix in Douglas today when Colin Griffin (Ballinamore) and Jamie Costin (West Waterford)emerged victorious in the 20km Walk ahead of 4 British Commonwealth Games bound athletes. Held in windy conditions at the National Sports Centre, both athletes ensured selection for themselves for the forthcoming World Race Walking Cup in La Coruna in May, with Costin particularly impressive in his first 20km since a car accident knocked him out of the Olympic Games in Athens. 2003 World Youth medalist Ann Loughnane(Loughrea)set a new National U-23 record when winning the women’s equivalent in 1.37.45 while Leitrim’s Laura Reynolds took the junior 10km event in a PB of 51.51. See below for full results. Jolene Byrne began her season in the Worlds Best 10K, San Juan, Puerto Rico returning from a difficult ankle injury which affected her performance at the European Cross Country Championships in December. Jolene finished 11th in the race. The winner in the race was Lornah Kiplagat in a time of 30:50. Results from National Cross Country Championships in Santry 8,000m Junior Men 1 Stephen Scullion North Belfast Harriers 26.58 2 Rory Chesser Ennis Track Club 27.20 3 Eoin Healy Dundrum South Dublin 27.30 6,000m Junior Women 1 Sara Louise Treacy Movnalvey AC 23.32 2 Roseanne Galligan Newebridge AC 23.48 3 Breffni Twohig Dundrum Sough Dublin 24.05 8,000m Senior Women 1 Maria McCambridge Dundrum South Dublin 28.05 2 Rosemary Ryan Bilboa AC 28.26 3 Fionnuala Britton Sli Chulann AC 29.07 12,000m Senior Men 1 Vincent Mulvey Raheny Shamrock 37.58 2 Mark Christie Mullingar Harriers 38.05 3 Killian Lonergan Clonliffe Harriers 38.05 Results European Grand Prix Meeting, Douglas, Isle of Man, 20km Men 1 C Griffin (Ballinamore) 1.27.15 2 J Costin (West Waterford) 1.28.55 3 S Partington (Isle of Man) 1.29.35 20km Women 1 A Loughnane (Loughrea) 1.37.45 (Irish U-23 Record) 2 K Stones (England) 1.44.19 3 E Viljeon (S Africa) 1.45.11 10km Junior Men 1 N Ball (England) 43.50 2 M Doyle (Cushenstown) 47.35 3 B Wears (England) 47.39 10km Junior Women 1 L Reynolds (Mohill) 51.52 2 M Latham (Isle of Man) 54.57 3 E Latham (Isle of Man) 59.14 For further details please contact Elaine Fitzgerald, Athletics Ireland 087-9782478
