Nolan and McGettigan happy with Boston starts

JAMES NOLAN and Roisín McGettigan got their Olympic years off to flying starts at the weekend’s Reebok Boston Indoor Games with encouraging runs in their respective mile races.

Nolan, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday, gave himself another reason to celebrate with his run the previous evening. The UCD runner clocked 4:01.06 for third place behind winner Pablo Solares of Mexico (4:00.34).

Solares snatched victory on the line from leader Rob Myers of the US.

Myers had led the field with three laps to go after pacemaker Moise Joseph of Haiti dropped out but never shook off the chasing pack led by Solares and Nolan.

Myers was eventually caught right on the line.

McGettigan, the national record holder for the 3,000 metres steeplechase, claimed third place in the women’s mile behind Americans Jenelle Deatherage and Lauren Fleshman. She also finished ahead of some other, much-heralded athletes such as 2006 world indoor silver medalist and current world leader Liliya Shobukhova of Russia, US outdoor 1,500m champion Tiffany McWilliams, two-time US indoor 1500m champion Jen Toomey and reigning Fifth Avenue Mile champion Sara Hall.

The Slí Chualann club runner from Wicklow, who is based in Providence, Rhode Island, ran a strong tactical race, staying just behind front runners McWilliams, Amy Mortimer and Hall until the bell and following Deatherage and Fleshman as they made their break for home.

Deatherage crossed the line in 4:32.95, with Fleshman second in 4:33.46 and McGettigan third in 4:33.96, some way ahead of Shobukhova in fourth in 4:35:54.

‘‘It was nice,’’ McGettigan said. ‘‘I didn’t feel under any pressure or get into any trouble and it was nice to be able to run like that without any speed work (in training).

‘‘I felt I had enough left to go for the win but she just got away. I’ll take that, though. It’s my only race of the indoor season.’’

Nor will McGettigan, 27, run cross country this season, preferring instead to now continue her preparations for the outdoor season and, of course, the Beijing Olympics this August.

‘‘This is a great meet and it’s good to just keep in touch with the racing but this is it indoors.

‘‘The plan is just to get really strong this winter, strong enough for the summer. That’s all I care about, August.’’

‘‘Four years ago I didn’t have the standard (qualifying time) and I wasn’t funded or anything. I’d just graduated from Providence College and it was very stressful. But I made the world (outdoor) final last year and I’m funded this year so I can train full-time.

“I’m in an ideal situation, I don’t feel under any pressure. I feel lucky because I know there are other athletes out there having to do different things and I just feel I’ll be ready come the summer to give 100%.’’