In the wake of an under-performance by an athlete, it may sound trite to cling to the consolation of it being a learning experience, but for Síofra Cléirigh-Buttner at the World Championships in London last night, that seemed the only fair appraisal.

Botswana’s Isaac Makwala will go for World Championships gold after overcoming illness, quarantine and two races in little more than two hours to qualify for today’s 200 metres final.

For many months now, Irish athletes have been striking the same chord when talking about the IAAF World Championships, which get under way in London tomorrow evening.

Many times in her career, Fionnuala McCormack has had to grin and bear as she dealt with the bitter taste of fourth place at a major championships, but this time it was clear she had enough.

There’s one day in the athletics calendar that reminds those of us who love the sport of all the reasons we love it — the All-Ireland Schools’ Championships.

UCD’s Mark English underlined his world-class potential at the Woodie’s DIY AAI Games in Athlone yesterday with a national 800m indoor record (1:46.82) which qualifies him for the world indoors.

By Will Downing

Sarah Lavin picked up Ireland’s sole medal of the European Junior Championships in Rieti, crossing the line second in a dramatic 100m hurdles final on Saturday.

A taste of the Olympics comes to Dublin tomorrow night (7.15pm) as a host of star names compete in the Morton Games before going for gold in London.

Joanna Mills put the ongoing controversy over the make-up of the Irish Olympic women’s 4x400m relay squad behind her yesterday by returning to the track in impressive fashion.

JOE SWEENEY strengthened his stranglehold on the domestic cross-country scene when he produced another powerful front-running display to retain his Woodies DIY inter-counties title at Sligo Racecourse yesterday.

THE winners of the senior men’s and senior women’s titles at Saturday’s Woodies DIY national inter-clubs cross-country championships at Santry Demesne are not interested in going to the world cross-country championships in Punta Unbria, Spain, on March 20.

AVIVA are to sponsor Irish schools athletics for the next three years.

NEWLY-CROWNED national senior cross-country champion, Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers), is among the entries for the phenomenon that is the Ballycotton 10 road race.