In-form Hession and O’Rourke rewarded with Irish captaincy

SPRINTERS Paul Hession (Athenry AC) and Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC) will captain the Irish team to compete in the European Team championships in Slovakia this weekend.

Both demonstrated their form at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava on Wednesday night with Hession winning a wind-assisted 200m in a time of 20.44 while O’Rourke times continued to improve in a positive vein when she finished fourth in the 100m Hurdles in a time of 12.95.

The team captains will be looking to emulate if not exceed these performances at the weekend when they compete with and lead the Irish Team in the first European Team Championships (formerly European Cup). This exciting new format will see men and women’s teams combine making it more exciting, unpredictable and by putting more emphasis on the country and team as opposed to individual athletes. Ireland, vying for promotion will be without the David Gillick who cannot compete in the 400m due to exam commitments, and will be replaced by Brian Gregan (Tallaght AC).

Chris Russell of Ferrybank AC who achieved the qualifying standard for the European Juniors in the 100m when he ran 10.65 in Manheim at the weekend is injured and is replaced by Double Paralympic gold medallist Jason Smyth (City of Derry).

European Team Selection (men and women) – 100m: Paul Hession (Athenry AC), Women’s TBC; 200m: Jason Smyth (City of Derry), Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank); 400m – Brian Gregan (Tallaght AC), Marian Andrews (Togher AC); 800m – Thomas Chamney (Crusaders AC), Kelly McNiece (Lisburn AC); 1500m – Liam Reale (Limerick AC), Deirdre Byrne (Sli Chulainn AC); 3000m – Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC), Kerry Harty (Newcastle AC); 5000m – Mark Hanrahan (Leevale), Eva Hutchinson (DSD AC); 3000m Steeplechase – Mark Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock AC), Roisin McGettigan (Sli Chulainn AC); 100m/110m H – Ian McDonald (Crusaders AC); Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC); 400m H – Tom Carey (City of Derry AC), Michelle Carey (West Dublin AC); Shot Putt – Colin Quirke (Crusaders AC), Aoife Hickey (KCH AC); Discus – Colin Quirke (Crusaders AC), Deirdre Murphy (Leevale AC); Hammer – Padraig White (UCD), Eileen O’Keeffe (KCH AC); Pole Vault – David Donegan (Clonliffe Harriers), Zoe Brown (Raheny AC); High Jump – Kourosh Foroughi (Star of the Sea AC), Deirdre Ryan (DSD AC); Long Jump – Steven Fleming (Crusaders AC), Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC); Triple Jump – Dennis Finnegan (UCC AC), Mary Mc Loone (Tir Chonaill AC); Javelin – Aaron Crawford (Strabane AC), Anita White (Dublin Striders AC)