Wind conspires to rob Hession of new 200m Irish record

PAUL HESSION was deprived of a new 200m national record by a wind that gusted to 4.7 metres per second as he beat a star-studded field in 20.43 secs, while Joanne Cuddihy ran her best race of the season to win the women’s 400m in 52.26 secs at Cork City Sports on Saturday.

Hession, who broke the national 100m record twice this season, had Paul Brizell’s 200m record (20.54 secs) as his target. Had the athletes got away first time he might have achieved it as the wind was almost flat calm. But a false start and then a faulty start delayed proceedings and it had blown up to double the legal limit when they eventually got away.

Hession and Clement Campbell (Jamaica) came off the bend shoulder to shoulder and battled it out all the way to the line where they were both timed at 20.43 secs in a photo finish.

“I am delighted with the run because the wind was blowing against us on the bend so you have it against you for 70 metres,” he said. “I know I can break that record now and to beat those guys is very encouraging.

“This is a great meet and it is our one chance to run against world class opposition in front of an Irish crowd. It is a pity there are not more days like it on the calendar.”

Joanne Cuddihy’s performance was etched in courage. She got away to the perfect start and battled her way into a gale force wind on the back straight to reel in the young Russian, Elena Migunova, and Donna Fraser and Kelly Massey from England before Aliann Pompey came through to challenge her on the inside.

But she was never going to be caught and in the home straight she was able to display the finishing power that took her to the final at the European championships in Gothenburg last year.

“It was quite windy but I did not really feel it,” she said. “I felt weak in the last 50 metres in Finland last week but I felt so strong today it really gives me hope for the rest of the season.”

“It was more of a race than just looking for a time today. I am going to run the 100m and the 200m at the Lee Strand International in Castleisland on Monday evening and next Saturday I go to race in Italy against three girls who have run 51 seconds this year.

“I found the jet lag really tough when I came back from the US — way worse than I expected. I am just trying to get back to myself.”

His coach, Nic Bideau, predicted David Campbell from Maynooth is ready to run 3:35 for 1,500m and 1:45 for 800m after he unleashed a spectacular finishing kick to beat Laban Rotich (Kenya), Nick Bromley (Australia) and Garreth Hyett (New Zealand) in 3:42.20.

“I went to Australia to train in March and I ran 3:41 in Tasmania in the middle of training,” he said. “I felt perky there today. You dream of feeling that good. I have two 800m races lined up in Italy so I’ll try and win those races and if the times come it will be great.”

Mary Cullen, came off a slow early pace to take control of the women’s 3,000m three laps out and won by almost five seconds from Laura Kenney (England) and Maria McCambridge in a time of 9:12.59.

There were two meet records set in the field events. The men’s shot putt featured the newly-crowned American champion, Reese Hoffa from Georgia, the Russian champion Ivan Yushov, and the Croatian champion, Nedzad Mulabegovic, and resulted in a thrilling contest that ended up with Hoffa claiming victory with a best throw of 21.47 metres which would have won the last two Olympic titles.

Amy Acuff (USA) also set a meet record in the women’s high jump which she won with a best of 1.92 metres from Anika Smit (South Africa), 1.85 metres.