Chamney eyes Belgium after Lucerne letdown

THOMAS CHAMNEY will take his quest for the Olympic A standard for 800m to Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, on Sunday after a disappointing race in Lucerne last night.

The 24-year-old Clonmel man went to within 0.66 secs of the standard (1:46.00) in Lignano last Sunday, and went to Terry McHugh’s meet in Lucerne full of confidence.

“It just was a disappointing race,” he said, after finishing fifth in 1:47.56. “It was disappointing not just for me but for everyone.”

The race was won by the world No. 2, Gary Reed, from Canada in 1:46.06. It had been expected he would run well under the Olympic qualifying standard.

“Everyone thought he would, and I was right up on his shoulder with 70m to go,” Chamney recalled. “But my chance of achieving the standard had gone from a long way out.

“Hopefully it will be a better race next time because I know I am capable of running the standard.”