Irish championships and team for Paris

Santry, IrelandLive television, blazing sunshine, top class performances, neck and neck finishes, winner takes all races and sheer drama, tension and enjoyment for each and every paying member of the large crowd made the 131st Woodies DIY National Championships one of the most memorable in many years at Santry.

The two unrelated O'Sullivans were once again the star performers of the weekend as each defended their titles over 5000m – walk and run - with top quality performances.

Less than 48 hours after finishing 6th in the IAAF Super GP in Crystal Palace, the elder of the two Sonia O'Sullivan was made battle all the way to retain her crown from the in-form Marie McMahon-Davenport from Clare in 15.20.68, just outside her own Championship Record.

"This really confirms that I'm ready to run well in Paris" she said afterwards. "I have had some good training and I think what I need now to sharpen me up is a few more races so I'm racing the 3000m in Zurich on Friday night and hope to run well there"

"I came here to win the title and it turned out to be a hard race to booth.I'd had a hard run yesterday (Saturday) and having Marie beside me helped my concentration, something I didn’t have on Friday in London"

There was the added bonus for McMahon-Davenport afterwards when she was confirmed in the team for Paris over 10,000m, based on running the B standard earlier this season.

World record breaking Race Walking Gillian O'Sullivan won the 5000m Walk in the second fastest time in the world this year with a speedy 20.13.13 ahead of fellow Paris bound athlete Olive Loughnane. O'Sullivan, who set the World record of 20:02.60 at this event last year was on WR pace for the first 3km, reached in 12.00.60 before the relentless 96 second laps took its toll.

The Kerry woman who along with her namesake Sonia represent Irelands best chance of a medal at the World Championships at the end of the month and was understandably delighted with her form this close to Paris despite not improving on the record this year.

"You don't set a record every time you race but I'm delighted with that race and now its all guns blazing for Paris."

The men's 1500m was billed as the "race of the Championships" and most certainly didn't disappoint!

Working to a pre-race agreement with Turnbull, Conor Sweeney took out the pace in a speedy 56 seconds first 400m before going through 800m in 1.54 whereupon he felt the effects of the pace and soon dropped back. Turnbull then took the lead and was never headed although the confident Nolan came up on his shoulder with 50m to go before the Belfast man dug in to take his first National 1500m crown.

"I'm very happy and very relieved to win that title” he said afterwards. "At 50m to go when James was on my shoulder I could just see a big Paris sign in front of me and somehow found extra reserves of strength to hang on. But all credit to James for making that race and its great for the sport to have us both going so well as well as Cathal (Lombard) last week."

Ireland’s fastest man Paul Brizzel booked his place for the forthcoming World T&F Championships courtesy of a 1/100th of a second victory in the race of the day over 200m ahead of Galway man Paul Hession and Gary Ryan a further 2/100ths of a second back.

Coming off the bend it looked like Ryan had the lead but a tremendous burst by, first Brizzel and then the 20 year old Hession left the large crowd on the edge of their seats before the result was announced some time later. But the day belonged to the Ballymena man who conceded afterwards that he felt under immense pressure all week and was delighted with the win and more importantly the trip to Paris.

"I was with Gary Ryan with 50m to go and at that point I knew I had it"

For Hession, the silver medal represents a huge leap forward in the sport and consolidates his position as a real threat and talent for the future of Irish
sprinting.

Ryan however managed to put the disappointment of his non-qualification for Paris in the 200m on Saturday with an aggressive piece of sprinting to destroy the field in the 100m winning in a new Championship Best Performance of 10.29, albeit with the aid of a 3 m tailwind. Always wears his emotions on his sleeve the Limerick lecturer was one of the most popular winners of the weekend and will now focus his energy on the 4x400m relay in Paris.

Both the 400m winners, Paul McKee and Karen Shinkins booked their places on the team for Paris with expected wins. For McKee the season thus far has been one of frustration with injuries but with the benefit of the confidence gained from his World Indoor bronze medal last March, he remains positive about his chances in Paris. The battle for the minor medals showed a major surprise in that David McCarthy was passed by Dundrum youngster David Gillick in the final stages. There was also good progress from Sydney Olympian Paul Opperman finishing in fourth in 47.88.

Ciara Sheehy, who is overcoming injury problems at the moment and progressing with every race looks like she may run out of time before the qualifying deadline for Paris but nonetheless recorded an impressive victory in the 200m with 23.58secs to win her fifth title over 200m.

1999 World Championship Long Jump finallist Ciaran McDonagh made a welcome return to form with a top quality 7.95m jump, the furthest legal jump in Ireland ever by an Irishman. McDonagh, who leapt to a wind-aided 8.04m in 1999, had a very consistent series and is now just 15cm off the World and Olympic B standard. The Athboy native looks likely to jump further by close of season. Indeed one of his foul jumps, where he was less than 5cm over the plastercine was measured at 8.67m and with an injury free training period anything is possible for the talented Meath man.

Under the blazing midday sun Sydney Olympian Jamie Costin, already qualified for both Paris and the Athens Olympics in the 50km Walk won his second track title over 10,000m pretty much at his ease from National Junior Record holder Colin Griffin from Ballinamore. Having spent the past 4 weeks training at high altitude in the Pyrenees in France the West Waterford clubman was unsure of what to expect having logged over 100 miles a week for the last number of weeks.

”I'm absolutely delighted with that win" said the 26 year old afterwards. "To win a national title is one highest accolades an athlete can achieve and you never tire of it. I've been out of the country training for over four months this year and its great to come back to Santry and win the title in front of my family and friends"

Cathal Lombard won his first National track title in the 5000m and the Arthur Cox employed solicitor will now focus all his energies on the 10,000m in Paris against the might of the Africans.

Karen Shinkins showed glimpses of her old self with a stylish victory to win her 7th title over 400m from the young pretender Joanne Cuddihy fresh from her medal winning exploits at the European Junior Championships in Finland last month.

Earlier this year the UCD medical student broke the long standing National Junior Record with 53.21 and improved this figure still further with 53.05, easily one of the fastest times in the world junior lists this year.

Commonwealth Games 1500m finalist Kelly McNiece won a tactical 800m over Maura Prenderville going through half-way in 72seconds while Daniel Caulfield lead from the gun and while he was passed by both Eoin Cumins and Brendan O'Shea at the crown of the bend he dug in yet again to win his second title.

Paris bound Peter Coghlan was forced by the television schedule to wait for his 7th title after a false start where 2 athletes failed to hear the gun meant the postponement of the race for over 2 hours. When the race eventually took place the Castleknock man showed his silky smooth hurdling ability winning in 14.01 and is now only 3 titles short of TJ Kearns record 10 hurdles titles.

The women's 1,500m provided a surprise of sorts as National Steeplechase Record holder Roisin McGettigan showed supreme confidence to take her first National title ahead of the pre-race favourite Freda Davoren from Kerry. Boasting a PB of 4.09. from the Cork City Sports where she also headed Davoren, the Wicklow woman showed she has serious credentials to pose a major threat in future major championships.

Terry McHugh showed his durability with a remarkable 20th consecutive javelin title by the narrowest of margins over Michael Allen of Abbey AC winning in the end by 42cm.

The Woodies DIY Athletes of the Meeting were Gareth Turnbull and Ciara Sheehy.

Pierce O'Callaghan for the IAAF

Full results - click here

Irish team for 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics

Women

400m  Karen Shinkins (DCH)
5000m   Sonia O`Sullivan (Ballymore / Cobh)
10000m  Marie Davenport (Marian)
100m Hurdles Derval O'Rourke (UCD)
20km Walk  Gillian O`Sullivan (Farranfore)
20km Walk  Olive Loughnane (Loughrea)

Men

200m   Paul Brizzel (Ballymena & Antrim)
400m  Paul McKee (Beechmount Hrs)
1500m  Gareth Turnbull (St Malachy's)
5000m /10000m Cathal Lombard (Leevale)
110m Hurdles Peter Coghlan (Crusaders)
50km Walk Jamie Costin (West Waterford)
4 x 400m relay  Paul McKee, David Gillick (DSD), David
McCarthy (Celbridge), Paul Opperman (DSD), Gary Ryan
(Nenagh Olympic)Paul Brizzel

Team Leader Michael McKeon (Menapians)
Assistant Michael Quinlan
Head Coach Paddy McGrattan (North Down)
Coach Bernie O'Callaghan (Killybegs)
Coach Paddy Fay (Raheny Shamrocks)

Physio Afric Morrissey
Doctor Fionnuala Geraghty