Ankrom defends marathon selection

Athletics Ireland High Performance Director Kevin Ankrom has defended the decision to not follow the European marathon selection policy for the women’s team with the late inclusion of Fionnuala Britton and Sarah Mulligan by declaring it as only a guideline.

“It’s a guide,” answered Ankrom, when asked why the selection criteria for the European marathon Cup team set out on the high performance section of the Athletics Ireland website was not followed.

Fionnuala Britton requested to run the marathon a number of weeks ago but with no individual standard, she could only compete as part of a team.

Withdrawals, including Nicola Duncan, Ireland’s number one ranked marathoner, left only Barbara Sanchez remaining; there is a minimum of three required to make a team.

This led to the inclusion of Sarah Mulligan to give Britton the opportunity to run but it has left other athletes disgruntled who were operating off the primary performance requirements of 2:38:00 for the marathon, 75:00 for a half marathon and a May 5th deadline.

“That’s your opinion,” responded Ankrom when it was put to him there had been a lack of transparency in following the selection protocol. Britton, who finished 8th in the 10,000m on Tuesday, and Mulligan are both coached by Chris Jones, who along with serving as National Endurance Coach, is a selector.