Cuddihy pipped for final spot

JOANNE CUDDIHY took Irish women’s 400m running to a new level at the world championships in Osaka yesterday when she set the national record at a world class 50.73 secs and only narrowly missed out on a place in the final.

The 23-year-old Kilkenny athlete finished fourth in her semi-final behind Novelne Williams (Jamaica).

Anna Guevara (Mexico), the 2003 champion was runner-up in 50.19 secs to claim the other automatic place in the final. Ilona Usovich (Belarus) was third in 50.31 secs and got through among the fastest losers as did the US champion, DeeDee Trotter.

She may not have made the final but Joanne Cuddihy will leave Osaka with the satisfaction of smashing the record which Karen Shinkins set at 51.07 secs eight years ago in Palma.

“I was out in Lane 8 so I couldn’t get distracted with just one person outside of me.

“I just tried to run as comfortably as I could. Before the race there was a fear that I would get too excited, go out too fast and pay the price because I have done that before. Then there was the possibility I would go out too slow and finish at the back,” she said.

When the pressure came on in the third 100m around the top bend, she responded magnificently, overtook McConnell on her outside and tackled the home straight courageously.

“I knew there would be an injection of pace in the third 100m around the second bend so I said to myself don’t get a shock if three or four people just fly by inside. They didn’t really.

“It went exactly how I had visions of how I wanted it to go.

“I am lucky in that I have always been a championship runner. Even when I was a junior all my season’s bests and my pb’s have been in championships.”

The fact that she was close to getting a place in the final will give her extra confidence in the lead up to next year’s Olympic Games.

“The level here is pretty very much like you are looking at for the Olympic Games and the same athletes will be involved,” she said.

“I have just gone full-time recently but I have only had a few months at it.”

Her previous best for 400m was 51.09 secs from last year when she made the final at the European Championships in Gothenburg and she has continued to progress from that under her coach, Paddy Fay.

Meanwhile, Roisín McGettigan went into the final of the steeplechase at the world championships ranked 10th in the world and confirmed that placing by finishing 10th in the race.

The title went to Yekaterina Volkova (Russia) in 9:06.57 with another Russian, Tatyana Petrova, second in 9:09.19 and Eunice Jepkorir (Kenya) third in 9:20.09.

McGettigan was 10th in 3:39.80 with the other Irish athlete in the race, Fionnuala Britton, 12th in 9:48.09.

“It’s never good when you are back and not competitive,” McGettigan said. “I find it difficult to be competitive when I am off the front.

“My coach (Ray Treacy) told me to expect to be anywhere between six and 10 so I was at the end of that.

“It is a step up from last year and a stepping stone to where I want to go.”

Michelle Carey finished eighth in her heat of the women’s 400m hurdles in 57.10 secs.