LETTERKENNY'S Mark English will lead a 14-strong Irish team at the European U23 Athletics Championships that place in Tallinn, Estonia from July 9-12.
The UCD student, who has opted for the Europeans instead of going to the World Universities’ Games, is joined in the 800m by fellow Donegal man Karl Griffin. Ballymena & Antrim’s Jonathan Browning is included the sprint relay squad while English-based Dempsey McGuigan,who qualifies through Northern parentage, is named for the hammer.
English ran a season’s best time of 1:45.83 for the 800m in Hengelo in late May which also qualified him for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing this August. Subsequently he put in a disappointing performance at the New York Diamond League when he was only seventh.
He improved to finish second while representing Ireland at the European Team Championships in Crete two weeks ago and also contributed a sub-45 seconds 400m relay leg.
English will wind up his preparations with a run at Cork City Sports on Tuesday night (see elsewhere this page for Cork preview) before taking on some top class opposition in Tallinn.
Poland’s ArturKuciapski(1:45.21) of Poland and Swedish athlete Andreas Almgren (1:45.59) have bothrun quicker this season than English but, with two European senior medals in the last 12 months, the Donegal man has the edge in experience.
Also included in the squad is Marcus Lawler who tops the Irish rankings this year over 100m and 200m with times of 10.47 and 20.74 seconds respectively. The Carlow athlete will contest both events in Estonia as will Cliodhna Manning in the women’s sprints. Lawler is also named in the 4x100m team along with Jonathan Browning, Keith Pike, Eanna Madden and Kieron Elliott.
Phil Healy goes in the women’s 100m having run a season’s best time of 11.74. The Cork athlete will also compete in the sprint relay along with Manning, Sarah McCarthy and Sarah Lavin. After a slow start to the season, Lavin has produced encouraging form in her specialist event, the 100m hurdles, in recent weeks. In Mannheim last weekend, she ran a season’s best of 13.45 seconds that ranks her 16th in Europe for the age group.
Sarah McCarthy has made a breakthrough this season in the long jump recording, a personal best of 6.24m at the IUAA Championships in Belfast. Joining McCarthy in the field events is Dempsey McGuigan who has thrown 66.90m in the hammer this year.Brandon Hargreaves and Kevin Dooney are named in the 5,000m and 10,000m events to complete the team.
The great Rossa Run is back
THE Great Rossa Run is back for a second year on July 12 following the success of the inaugural event in 2014.
The races over a variety of distances attracted over 300 runnerslast year and the organisers are committed to making this year’s event even bigger and better.All the race routes are situated on the shores of Lough Neagh with the runners having the option of a half marathon, 10K, 5K or family walk.
Runners and walkers will be able to enjoy the sights of an unequalled rural countryside, including such landmarks as the Old Cross of Ardboe, while also experiencing the legendary hospitality of the Ardboecommunity.
"We are delighted to have SPAR as our main sponsor again, and are extremely grateful to all our other sponsors who have helped us make this possible,” said Shane Mallon, Chair of the 2015 organising body.
“Last years event was brilliant, and we were impressed at the quality of experience had by all the runners. We are determined to build on this success, and make the 2015 event better.
“Last year, over £12,000 was raised and invested into St Patrick's Primary School pitch. We were also able to make a donation to Cancer Focus. We are happy to be supporting Cancer Focus again this year, and are determined to increase the funds raised for the local school and football club," he concluded.
The run is open to runners of all levels with over £1000 in prize money on offer. However it is not all about the “professionals” and the organisers stress that there is something to suit everyone; whether as a summer challenge or asa preparation for one of the autumn classics.
To register on-line go to https://online.athleticsni.org/ps/event/TheGreatRossaRun or simply turn up on the day.
Countdown on to Dub Runners's Trail Race
IT IS just under a month to go to the first ever Giant's Trail Race in the heart of Belfast City and organised by the Dub Runners on July 31.
The event is a challenging 6 mile trail race with breath-taking views of the Giant's Ring, the River Lagan and the outdoor art at Minnowburn.
It should be a great opportunity to lace up the running shoes and experience a mainly off-road race over a variety of terrains; from forest trails to rolling pastures, gravel to the Lagan towpath.
The route runs alongside the Neolithic monument at the Giant's Ring before dropping down into Edenderry Village, crossing Gilchrist Bridge, picking up a bike trail to Shaw's Bridge and meandering upwards to the finish at Queen's Playing Fields.
The race starts at from Queen's Playing Fields (7:30pm) with places limited to 250 participants. Already eager beavers, determined not to miss out on the fun, have snapped up 150 of those places.
"It's the first time the club has organised a race and the reaction has been great,” says Dub Runners Chair Brian Grimes.
“The course is stunning, it's where the Dub Runners train every week but this is a great opportunity to let other runners see the wonderful trails we all have access to from a starting point in the heart of the city. With an entry limit of 250, early sign up is strongly recommended."
Further details of the run are available on http://www.athleticsni.org/Fixtures and the route map is on the Dub Runners website at http://www.dubrunners.org.uk.
The Week Ahead:
Tonight: 7:30pm – Ballyhegan Park & Stride – Ballyhegan, Kilmore; 7:30 – J G Memorial 5K – Cranford, Co. Donegal
Tomorrow: 9:30am – parkrun – various venues; 10:00am – AAI National Juvenile Championships (Day 1) – Tullamore; 11:00am - Lisbellaw 10K & 7.5K Run/Walk – Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh; 11:00am - Comber Potato 10K – The Square, Comber
Sunday: 10:30am –AAI National U20 & U23 Championships - Tullamore
Tuesday: 7:00pm – North Down Open Meet – Bangor; 7:30pm – Raphoe 5K – Raphoe, Co. Donegal.
Thursday: 7:30pm – Rathmullan 5K – Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
Cork City to host top class action next week
SOME top class sprinting is expected at the 64th Cork City Sportswhich takes place in the CIT Stadium at 5:30pm on Tuesday evening.
US World Championships bronze medallist Curtis Mitchell will take on his compatriot Bryshon Nellum in the 200m. Olympic 4 x 400m silver medallist Nellum finished fourth in the USTAF Championships over 400m last weekend.
Caribbean sprinters RondellSorillo and two-time Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Michael Frater are down for the 100m and 200m. US 5000m medallists Abbey D’Agostino and Marielle Hall will fight out the 3000m.
Tenaya Jones, a finalist in the ultra-competitive 100m at the US trials, will come up against European indoor medallist Serita Solomon of Great Britain and fellow American JanayDeloach.
Deloach is also down for the long jump. European medallist Mark English will face Mark Wieczorek of the USA in the 800m while Takashi Eto of Japan and MihaiDonisan of Romania will clash in the high jump.
Irish World medallist Robert Heffernan will compete in the 3000m walk.
The Tyco Mile is shaping up be an absolute cracker with ten sub-4 minute milers confirmed for the event. Nike athlete Andy Bayer, with a personal best of 3:34.47, leads a seven-strong US team in the race while Paul Robinson and John Coghlan lead the Irish challenge.
