Kenyan ace Rotich reigns, but outside four-minute mark

LABAN ROTICH failed by a fraction in his bid to become the first athlete to break four minutes for the mile in Kerry at last night’s Lee Strand international meeting on Castleisland’s resplendent track when he outsprinted fellow Kenyan, Paul Korir, to win in 4:00.63.

For the second successive year, the magic margin remained intact with James Nolan, who was competing in Athens last night, failing by a whisker in his bid last September.

But, this time, a sub four was on the cards as Liam Reale from Limerick set the early pace but the three Kenyans, with Martin Fagan from Mullingar providing the meat in the sandwich, allowed Reale to slip away, and when he dropped out it was always going to be a dust up over the final lap.

Fagan who took the initiative at the bell but when he looked over his shoulder with just under two minutes to go, he saw Rotich, Korir and Job Tanui queued up behind him and he was never going to match their finishing kick.

Rotich, who beat Korir ahead of Alastair Cragg in the 1,500m in Cork on Saturday afternoon, has a personal best of 3:47.65 for the mile, and he was not going to be denied when he stormed to the front.

Korir was second in 4:01.69, with Job Tanui third in 4:02.98.

Fagan, after falling victim to the charge up the back straight, ended up fourth in 4:04.92.

“I just don’t have that speed right now,” the Mullingar man admitted. “I have been feeling a bit tired since I came home from the US and it will take a little time to freshen up.”

He has already qualified at both 5,000m and 10,000m for the European championships and all his energy has been devoted in preparing for those.

“I will run a 1,500m in Aarhem on Wednesday and then I will do the 5,000m at the national championships. After that I will decide what I will do in Gothenburg.”

There were several athletes in action last night with Gothenburg on their minds. Paul McKee won the 400m in 47.07 secs, holding off a challenge from Antoine Burke in 47.09 secs. McKee is one of the 400m runners with standards for the European championships while Burke, a former silver medallist in the high jump at the world junior championships, is chasing the standard in the 400m hurdles.

Leon Grant of Great Britain was back running 400m after a spell of injury and finished third in 48.08 to highlight his return.

Paul McKee then finished second to John Woods (USA) in the 200m in a hand-timed 20.7, edging out Gary Ryan on the same time.

“I was pleased with my 64.31 in Belgium,” the Belfast man said. “I ran 46.77 on the Tuesday. Then I ran 21.15 for 200m and had a personal best of 10.66 in the 100m, so things are going well.”

John Woods, who won the 100m in The Mardyke on Saturday, had a double this time, winning both sprints. The Denver, Colorado, sprinter had six meets in Europe before returning to the US for the championships two weeks ago and has enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in Ireland.

“I go to Aarhem tomorrow for Wednesday’s meet so it has been hectic,” he said. “I was very happy with my performance in (10.30) coming off my worst ever reaction time.”

Jer O’Donoghue from the promoting Riocht AC, who ran his qualifying standard for the Europeans at the corresponding meet last year when he won in 10.45, finished third behind Darragh Graham (10.82) but was happy with his performance after a worrying injury that kept him out off the track for four weeks.

Orla Drumm (UCC) posted her eighth personal best time of the year when she finished third in the 800m n 2:07.87 behind Ananda Pritchard (Wales), 2:03.86, Carolyne Chepkwony (Kenya) 2:04.82 and Susan Scott (Scotland) 2:05.37. With a recent pb for 1,500m from Cork on Saturday, she now must decide which event to run at the national championships.