Ó Lionáird goes Stateside to pursue London Olympic dream

CIARAN Ó LIONÁIRD flew to Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday to continue his build-up to next year’s Olympic Games under legendary marathon runner Alberto Salazar, who heads up the Nike Oregon Project.

The Leevale man achieved the Olympic A standard for 1,500m with a 3:34.46 run in Oordegem in July — the fourth fastest time ever by an Irishman — and he underscored his potential by battling his way through to the 1,500m final at the world championships in Daegu.

It was between races in Daegu that he met the three-time New York marathon winner who convinced him that Portland was the place to be.