O’Rourke primed for ‘big performance’ in Budapest
A poor start in Cork left her devastated but she can put all that behind her and, after Budapest, she will travel to Lausanne for Tuesday Grand Prix meeting.
“She had a sensational session with the other members of the group yesterday and ran 120 metres faster than she has ever done before,” her coach, Jim Kilty, revealed last evening.
“Both herself and Ciara (Sheehy), who also competes in Budapest, are running out of their skins and I would predict big performances at the weekend. Derval is in brilliant form at the moment.”
Paul Hession, on the crest of a wave, could finally claim the national 200m record in Budapest where Anna Boyle is also scheduled to compete.
Martin Fagan (Mullingar Harriers) has been selected at both 5,000m and 10,000m on the team for the World Student Games in Bangkok next month but his participation depends on recovering from an injury which may require surgery.
His Mullingar Harriers clubmate, Mark Christie could double up at 1,500m and 5,000m pending the outcome of next week’s European under-23 championships in Debrechen.
Joe McAllister, the reigning national half marathon champion, is an interesting selection for that event and, on form, could challenge for a medal.
Two of the medallists from the Games two years ago in Turkey are included — Cork sprinter Ailish McSweeney and her Leevale clubmate, Derval O’Rourke — in the 4 x 100m relay with Anna Boyle and Emily Maher.
But the main focus will be on the improving hammer thrower, Eileen O’Keeffe (Kilkenny City Harriers), who set a national record at the European Cup in Vaasa and beat a former Olympian, Andrea Bunjes (Germany) when she won at the Lee Strand International in Castleisland on Monday evening.
She is just five centimetres off the A standard for the world championships and Olympic Games but has her sights on the magical 70 metre mark.
She competes in Padua, Italy, this weekend where the conditions should be much better than the cold wind and rain in Castleisland.
Thomas Chamney was just a tenth of a second off his best 800m time when winning in Belgium over the weekend.
Fionnuala Britton, European under-23 cross-country silver medallist, has achieved the B standard in the steeplechase for the world championships and is named at both the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m in the team while Mary Cullen is also named at 5,000m.
Orla Drumm (UCC) is selected at 1,500m along with Deirdre Byrne.
David McCarthy, a student at University of Limerick, has been selected at both the 400m and 800m while high jumper, Sharon Heveron, who is also on the team for the European under-23’s, is selected.
The team is: Anna Boyle (100m/200m); Fionnuala Britton (3,000m Steeplechase/5,000m;) Deirdre Byrne (1500m); Thomas Chamney (800m/1500m); Mark Christie (1500m/5,000m); Mary Cullen (5,000m); Orla Drumm (1500m); Eoin Everard (800m); Martin Fagan (5,000m/10,000m); Sharon Heveran (High Jump); Joe McAlister (Half Marathon); David McCarthy (400m/800m); Ailis McSweeney (100m); Eileen O’Keeffe (Hammer).
The management team is Br. John Dooley and Teresa McDaid.
