Great competition assured 
Sharon Heveran in action at the European U23 Championshps. Picture Courtesy EAA The athletes who have set new Irish records over the past weeks are all entered for next weekend’s Woodie’s DIY AAI senior track and field championships. They will be joined by an ever increasing number of athletes who have set personal best’s in their chosen disciplines so far this year and they will be all out to improve further in this top class meet. There is free entry to all under 16’s who will experience some great competition in all events, and should pick up more than a few autographs as well!! Pride of place must go to David Gillick who won his second European indoor 400m title in March and followed up by setting a new Irish outdoor 400m record. His plan to run his only 400m on Irish soil this year at Cork City Sports came unstuck when he false started for the only time in his life and had to watch from the sideline. A 200m run to develop his speed further could be on the cards for the weekend. Paul McKee, who lost his Irish record to Gillick, is amongst the entries for the 400m, as is Gordon Kennedy, Brian Doyle, Brian Murphy and John Laffey. Should be a great final. World indoor 60m hurdles champion, and European 100m hurdles silver medallist Derval O’Rourke encountered ‘start’ problems in Cork, and, even if the same happens here, she should have no problem adding a sixth title to her collection, leaving her just two short of the eight won by Susan Smith. Derval is also entered in the 100m and, by all accounts, could add a second title. Two years ago she came within a whisker of winning this event, and is running that bit faster this time round. Add in Anna Boyle and Ailis McSweeney for an exciting contest. The Cork native is looking forward to the Championships. “It is always a big deal for me to race in Ireland and the National championships really are the highlight of the season for most Irish athletes. My focus is obviously going to be on Osaka next month and then Beijing next year so ever race is a huge race and a build up for me and this weekend will hopefully help that,” O’Rourke said at the launch of the championships today. There is no stopping Paul Hession these days. He set a new Irish record for 60m at the European indoor championships, an event that is well short of his preferred 200m distance. He followed up by adding the Irish 100m record within weeks of the outdoor season starting, and just last Sunday added the Irish 200m record to his collection at the Grand Prix meet in Sheffield. Whatever distance he chooses at the weekend should see him add the Irish title. His only previous senior title was in 2004 when he won the 200m. Robert Heffernan, who is in the form of his life, lines up for the 10,000m walk, where he will be joined by Colin Griffin and Jamie Costin all of whom have already achieved the qualifying standards for the world championships in Osaka next month, as well as the Beijing Olympics next year. Eileen O’Keeffe set a new Irish record for the hammer at the European Cup in Finland last month and is an athlete who is capable of throwing much further. She is entered in the discus as well as the hammer. Eva Massey is set to win the shot putt title after some great throwing this season. Thomas Chamney has laid down the gauntlet by entering the 800m only. He is getting into top form as he prepares to defend the title he won last year. On that occasion his arch rival David Campbell did much of the leading only to be caught within yards of the finish. Campbell won the 1,500m at Cork City Sports with a super confident display. And last Sunday he finished ahead of Chamney at a meet in Italy over 800m, with both runners just a fraction over 1:46.00. Can he repeat the feat this weekend? David MmCcarthy's decision to move up to 800m from 400m looks to have been the right one and he will have a big say in the destination of the 800m title. Liam Reale and James Nolan are others who could contest the 1,500m. Mark Carroll has entered the 5,000m, an event that has given him five national titles, the same as John Treacy. His track running was re-ignited earlier this season when he clocked 13:33 and he is on record as saying that he hopes to qualify for his fourth Olympics. He could be joined in the 5,000m by Alistair Cragg who broke Carroll’s Irish 10,000m record last May. However, things have not been going quite to plan since then as he has dropped out of two races and will be anxious to get things back on track. Joanne Cuddihy is set to become the first Irish woman to dip under 51 seconds for 400m and is in superb shape. She is another brimful of confidence and should add the Irish title to her collection. Kelly Reid, Orla Drumm, Maura Prendiville, Rose Anne Galligan and Deirdre Byrne could turn the 800m into a fierce battle. Mary Cullen, who took chunks off her PB over 3,000m last weekend contests the 1,500m where she will be joined by Roisin McGettigan for an interesting ‘duel’. A notable entry in the 5,000m is none other than Sonia O’Sullivan, one of Ireland’s greatest athletes. Can she add yet another Irish? Her competitive nature suggests she could well be the 2007 Irish champion. And the high jump could well be another event to savour. Here Deirdre Byrne and Sharon Heveron will battle for the title. Stephen Fleming will be the one to beat in the long jump, while Mark Crowley, Christopher Crowley and Caolan Flanagan will contest the high jump. Mark Kirwan is in the 3,000m steeplechase with Eugene O’Neill for company and they will be joined by junior Stephen Scullion. Ian McDonald goes in the 110m hurdles with Peter Coghlan an interesting entry. The 400m hurdles could be a contest between Jonathan Miller and Antoine Burke. This is the fourth year that Woodie’s DIY have sponsored the AAI Senior Track and Field Championships and Peter Dolan, Marketing manager for Woodie’s, is delighted with how the relationship is working. “Ireland’s strong tradition of producing world class athletes is reflected in the skills of the top Irish contenders competing at this year’s Championships, and Woodie’s DIY is delighted to continue to support the Athletics Association of Ireland, helping to lay the foundations for athletics in this country. Building on the strength of our long-standing relationship with the AAI, we understand the need to lend support at junior and grassroots level as well as at senior level. Our sponsorship of the entire AAI calendar of events demonstrates this commitment.”Roll of Honour - Irish Champions (Outdoors) Courtesy Pierce O'Callaghan Timetable of Events - Please note change of times for hurdles and 400m. Entry is free for all under 16's. Woodie's DIY Senior Track and Field Championships Timetable The AAI/Woodie’s DIY Senior Track and Field Championships take place this Saturday and Sunday, the 21st and 22nd of July, at Morton Stadium, Santry. Entry to the event is €15 for a two day pass with the action starting at 12 noon on Saturday. Welsh Senior Centenary Championships 1907 - 2007 Cwmbran Stadium, Saturday 14th July 100m 5 Gerard McGahey Menapians (Ire) 11.52 +2.2 2 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 11.01 q +0.4 6 15 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 10.88 no wind 200m 7 21 Gerard McGahey Menapians (Ire) 24.16 +3.5 1 15 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 22.66 Q -2.2 7 17 Adrian Jackman Menapians (Ire) 24.56 N/W 3 15 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 22.51 -2.2 400m 6 367 Michael Kennedy UCD AC 52.09 800m 4 368 Alan O'Brien Army/W Waterford 1:55.07 400m hurdles 6 124 Damian Walsh St Senans (Ire) 63.52 5 117 Shane McCormack Menapians (Ire) 58.64 Discus 5 John Menton Donore Har (Ire) 47.53
Sharon Heveran in action at the European U23 Championshps. Picture Courtesy EAA The athletes who have set new Irish records over the past weeks are all entered for next weekend’s Woodie’s DIY AAI senior track and field championships. They will be joined by an ever increasing number of athletes who have set personal best’s in their chosen disciplines so far this year and they will be all out to improve further in this top class meet. There is free entry to all under 16’s who will experience some great competition in all events, and should pick up more than a few autographs as well!! Pride of place must go to David Gillick who won his second European indoor 400m title in March and followed up by setting a new Irish outdoor 400m record. His plan to run his only 400m on Irish soil this year at Cork City Sports came unstuck when he false started for the only time in his life and had to watch from the sideline. A 200m run to develop his speed further could be on the cards for the weekend. Paul McKee, who lost his Irish record to Gillick, is amongst the entries for the 400m, as is Gordon Kennedy, Brian Doyle, Brian Murphy and John Laffey. Should be a great final. World indoor 60m hurdles champion, and European 100m hurdles silver medallist Derval O’Rourke encountered ‘start’ problems in Cork, and, even if the same happens here, she should have no problem adding a sixth title to her collection, leaving her just two short of the eight won by Susan Smith. Derval is also entered in the 100m and, by all accounts, could add a second title. Two years ago she came within a whisker of winning this event, and is running that bit faster this time round. Add in Anna Boyle and Ailis McSweeney for an exciting contest. The Cork native is looking forward to the Championships. “It is always a big deal for me to race in Ireland and the National championships really are the highlight of the season for most Irish athletes. My focus is obviously going to be on Osaka next month and then Beijing next year so ever race is a huge race and a build up for me and this weekend will hopefully help that,” O’Rourke said at the launch of the championships today. There is no stopping Paul Hession these days. He set a new Irish record for 60m at the European indoor championships, an event that is well short of his preferred 200m distance. He followed up by adding the Irish 100m record within weeks of the outdoor season starting, and just last Sunday added the Irish 200m record to his collection at the Grand Prix meet in Sheffield. Whatever distance he chooses at the weekend should see him add the Irish title. His only previous senior title was in 2004 when he won the 200m. Robert Heffernan, who is in the form of his life, lines up for the 10,000m walk, where he will be joined by Colin Griffin and Jamie Costin all of whom have already achieved the qualifying standards for the world championships in Osaka next month, as well as the Beijing Olympics next year. Eileen O’Keeffe set a new Irish record for the hammer at the European Cup in Finland last month and is an athlete who is capable of throwing much further. She is entered in the discus as well as the hammer. Eva Massey is set to win the shot putt title after some great throwing this season. Thomas Chamney has laid down the gauntlet by entering the 800m only. He is getting into top form as he prepares to defend the title he won last year. On that occasion his arch rival David Campbell did much of the leading only to be caught within yards of the finish. Campbell won the 1,500m at Cork City Sports with a super confident display. And last Sunday he finished ahead of Chamney at a meet in Italy over 800m, with both runners just a fraction over 1:46.00. Can he repeat the feat this weekend? David MmCcarthy's decision to move up to 800m from 400m looks to have been the right one and he will have a big say in the destination of the 800m title. Liam Reale and James Nolan are others who could contest the 1,500m. Mark Carroll has entered the 5,000m, an event that has given him five national titles, the same as John Treacy. His track running was re-ignited earlier this season when he clocked 13:33 and he is on record as saying that he hopes to qualify for his fourth Olympics. He could be joined in the 5,000m by Alistair Cragg who broke Carroll’s Irish 10,000m record last May. However, things have not been going quite to plan since then as he has dropped out of two races and will be anxious to get things back on track. Joanne Cuddihy is set to become the first Irish woman to dip under 51 seconds for 400m and is in superb shape. She is another brimful of confidence and should add the Irish title to her collection. Kelly Reid, Orla Drumm, Maura Prendiville, Rose Anne Galligan and Deirdre Byrne could turn the 800m into a fierce battle. Mary Cullen, who took chunks off her PB over 3,000m last weekend contests the 1,500m where she will be joined by Roisin McGettigan for an interesting ‘duel’. A notable entry in the 5,000m is none other than Sonia O’Sullivan, one of Ireland’s greatest athletes. Can she add yet another Irish? Her competitive nature suggests she could well be the 2007 Irish champion. And the high jump could well be another event to savour. Here Deirdre Byrne and Sharon Heveron will battle for the title. Stephen Fleming will be the one to beat in the long jump, while Mark Crowley, Christopher Crowley and Caolan Flanagan will contest the high jump. Mark Kirwan is in the 3,000m steeplechase with Eugene O’Neill for company and they will be joined by junior Stephen Scullion. Ian McDonald goes in the 110m hurdles with Peter Coghlan an interesting entry. The 400m hurdles could be a contest between Jonathan Miller and Antoine Burke. This is the fourth year that Woodie’s DIY have sponsored the AAI Senior Track and Field Championships and Peter Dolan, Marketing manager for Woodie’s, is delighted with how the relationship is working. “Ireland’s strong tradition of producing world class athletes is reflected in the skills of the top Irish contenders competing at this year’s Championships, and Woodie’s DIY is delighted to continue to support the Athletics Association of Ireland, helping to lay the foundations for athletics in this country. Building on the strength of our long-standing relationship with the AAI, we understand the need to lend support at junior and grassroots level as well as at senior level. Our sponsorship of the entire AAI calendar of events demonstrates this commitment.”Roll of Honour - Irish Champions (Outdoors) Courtesy Pierce O'Callaghan Timetable of Events - Please note change of times for hurdles and 400m. Entry is free for all under 16's. Woodie's DIY Senior Track and Field Championships Timetable The AAI/Woodie’s DIY Senior Track and Field Championships take place this Saturday and Sunday, the 21st and 22nd of July, at Morton Stadium, Santry. Entry to the event is €15 for a two day pass with the action starting at 12 noon on Saturday. Welsh Senior Centenary Championships 1907 - 2007 Cwmbran Stadium, Saturday 14th July 100m 5 Gerard McGahey Menapians (Ire) 11.52 +2.2 2 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 11.01 q +0.4 6 15 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 10.88 no wind 200m 7 21 Gerard McGahey Menapians (Ire) 24.16 +3.5 1 15 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 22.66 Q -2.2 7 17 Adrian Jackman Menapians (Ire) 24.56 N/W 3 15 David Hynes Menapians (Ire) 22.51 -2.2 400m 6 367 Michael Kennedy UCD AC 52.09 800m 4 368 Alan O'Brien Army/W Waterford 1:55.07 400m hurdles 6 124 Damian Walsh St Senans (Ire) 63.52 5 117 Shane McCormack Menapians (Ire) 58.64 Discus 5 John Menton Donore Har (Ire) 47.53 
