More hard work awaits Whelan

THE IRISH have always held a special place in their hearts for their international athletes, and Niamh Whelan is a name that could resonate for years to come.

The Waterford native is a member of the famed Ferrybank Athletic Club and followed in the footsteps of clubmate, Kelly Proper (2006 winner), by picking up the Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star award for athletics at the Mansion House, Dublin yesterday.

The highlight of 2007 for the 17-year-old Presentation student was winning bronze at the European Youth Olympics in Belgrade. But in her own age group at the National Indoor Championships, she picked up winners medals in the 60m, 200m and 300m, and finished fourth at the AAA championships in Birmingham in 24.56secs.

And she got 2008 off to flier by capturing gold in the 200m at the Woodies DIY Irish senior indoor championships, but all her energies will be devoted to July’s World Junior Championships in Poland.

However, she knows she faces stiff opposition from the top of world athletics.

“I don’t know is a medal top of my priorities because there will be top juniors from around the world there. There will be girls from the US, and they’re going to be extremely good. But I would love to make a final — that would be the goal.”

Of her long term goals, Whelan has her sights set on reaching the 2012 London Olympics. “My aim is to make the 2012 London Olympics. You don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m starting college next year. I’ll have to have a good coach and good support but hopefully I can achieve that. It’s definitely in the back of my mind.”

However she will try to resist the temptation to move abroad to train in order to achieve that dream of representing her country in London. Anyhow, she feels it can be attained by staying in Ireland.

“I feel your coach can only take you so far, and you have to go on and learn new techniques too. The universities here allow you train athletically and properly. I’ll be staying for now anyway.”

Whelan was delighted to receive the award, but she also picked up a few pearls of wisdom from Alex Ferguson’s keynote address.

“He said that while we got to where we are, the hard work has to go on. That’s definitely true.”