‘Sensational’ run leaves Hession delighted

PAUL HESSION singled out Brendan Christian (Antigua & Barbuda) as the favourite to win the race before he went to the line for last evening’s 200m at the Bislett Games Golden League meeting in Oslo and then went on to challenge him for the lead coming off the bend.

Christian eventually edged clear to win in 20.39 secs while the Athenry man settled for second place in 20.48 secs with Clement Campbell (Jamaica) third in 20.58 secs. Marlon Devonish (Great Britain) finished fifth in 20.59 secs.

“It was a sensational run all right,” he admitted. “It was just brilliant — two tenths of a second faster than my opener last year. To be second in a Golden League race is very exciting.

“But the significant thing about it was the fact that I ran a really strong straight. I have been working on my strength in the finishing straight all winter and, from that, it has paid off. I felt really strong tonight.

“In six days time I run a 300m race against Jeremy Wariner in Ostrava so that will tell me a lot as regards my strength. I expect to have a really good run there too.”

Derval O’Rourke opened her season on a high note at Kassel, Germany, where she finished third in the 100m hurdles race in 12.99 seconds.

The race was won by Carolin Nytra (Germany), 12.90 secs, with O’Rourke’s old sparring partner, Sarah Claxton (Great Britain) second in 12.91 secs.

“I’m delighted with the run,” she said. “It is my fastest opener since 2006 and now I am looking forward to taking the time down as the season progresses.’’

Paul McKee finished third in the “B” 400m in Oslo in 46.63 secs but James Nolan was down the field in the 1,500m, finishing 10th in 3:44.48.

Thomas Chamney was also down the file in Turin but the Irish women’s 4 x 400m relay team finished third in 3:33.42 behind Italy who won in 3:30.82. With Joanne Cuddihy out through injury, the team was comprised of Michelle Carey, Brona Furlong, Marion Andrews and Karen Shinkins.

Meanwhile Tirunesh Dibaba broke the women’s 5,000 metres world record last night with a stunning run at the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo.

Dibaba broke free of the field two kilometres from the finish to set a time of 14mins 11.15secs, knocking more than five seconds off the mark of 14:16.63 set by her fellow Ethiopian, Meseret Defar, last year.

Dibaba had been three seconds off the pace of Defar’s effort until launching a thrilling surge in the second half of the race to beat the record by a comfortable margin.