Could I go one - or more -- better than a fourth-placed finish last time out? 

At events like the World Championships, it's easy to tell when an Irish athlete is making a big impact: journalists from other nations start asking about them. He goes in the 800m final at 2:22pm on Saturday. 

Ser-Od Bat-Ochir has run at 12 straight World Athletics Championships and six straight Olympic Games. On Monday morning, he will be on the line at this year's championships in Toyko. 

That’s not being negative, just realistic, and only one Irish athlete looks to have true medal potential: Kate O’Connor.

When Grand Slam Track cancelled their event in LA ending its season early, it posted that they “have been and will be a league dedicated to transparency.” That’s up for debate.

When Rhasidat Adeleke told everyone why she’d miss next month’s World Championships, the reason was most likely just what she said.

In August 1985, Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O’Sullivan, Frank O’Mara and Ray Flynn broke the world 4 x mile record at Belfield to raise money for famine ravaged Ethiopia. 

'When you need it the most, they’re not there,' Ciara Neville said of the system. 

As it was for Sarah Healy and Kate O’Connor, it might take many years, lots of luck, world-class support teams and a whole heap of heartbreak before they can enjoy a golden moment on the senior stage.

My dad's final day was spent doing two things he loved: visiting family and betting on horses. At 5.30 that evening, he strolled down to our local bookies in Limerick to place his last ever bet: a €1 Lucky 15 on four horses in Kempton.