McSweeney hitting right form as Barcelona looms

AILIS McSWEENEY was chuffed when Derval O’Rourke arrived around with a bouquet of flowers on Thursday night.

The Leevale clubmates have been close friends and training partners throughout their athletics careers and whenever they travelled to a major championships, they roomed together.

Next week they head off for the European Championships in Barcelona where O’Rourke will be among the medal favourites for the 100m hurdles.

This time, however, McSweeney, will have a new spring in her step after breaking Michelle Carroll’s 32-year-old 100m record (11.43secs) with a sensational 11.40 run in Liege on Tuesday. The run also qualified her for the European Championships.

McSweeney’s coach Sean Cahill has been singing her praises for the past two years. She had been struggling with her form since the World Student Games in Turkey – doing enough to qualify for the big events but failing to realise her potential when arriving there. In recent times, however, she had been showing all her old form – quick away from the blocks and producing storming finishes.

On a previous visit to Belgium, McSweeney returned one of her fastest ever times when beating her Irish rivals in the heats and final of the 100m. She won her heat in 11.72 secs from Amy Foster, 11.73 secs, and indoor champion, Claire Brady, 11.77 secs.

Then she confirmed her supremacy in the final which she won in 11.62 secs to 11.65 for Foster and 11.66 secs for Brady. Then came Cork City Sports, where she finished second to Sheri-Ann Brooks (Jamaica) in 11.84 secs into a headwind of -3.6 and not alone did she have Claire Brady behind her but she also claimed the scalps of Gloria Asumnu (USA) and defending champion, Ivet Lalova (Bulgaria).

She again annihilated the opposition to retain her title at the Woodies DIY National Championships and, for the first time, went to Liege oozing confidence.

“When I got there it was so good,” she said. “I only got into the B race late on but I was so happy I did.

“Then I ran really well. I won my race, broke the record which I did not expect to do and I was delighted with the way everything went.”

Her athletics career began as a member of the St Aloysius Carrigtwohill 4x100m relay team that was never beaten in schools competition. The squad was coached by John Sheehan who would later coach Ailis when she joined Leevale AC.

After qualifying as a solicitor, she went to Dublin where she continued to train with her clubmate, Derval O’Rourke, but she admitted that she was contemplating quitting athletics this year if she did not qualify for the European Championships. “I was actually thinking about what I would say to Sean and Terri,” she said. “I had put a lot into it this year. My employers (A&L Goodbody Solicitors) have been so good to me, giving me time to train.”

Not only will she compete in the 100m in Barcelona but she has also been handed the leadership of the 4x100m relay team.

“Terri (Cahill) coaches the team and she has been very good with us. Our expectations are high.”

Terri Cahill (nee Horgan) from Mallow was a long jump international and long-time record holder in that event and is now part of the husband and wife team that coaches Derval O’Rourke, Ailis McSweeney, 110m hurdles champion, Ian McDonnell, and sprinter, Anna Boyle, who has recently joined the squad.