O Lionáird hones form for Euros with sensational Stateside win

CIARÁN O LIONÁIRD feels that the Irish under-23s are ready to compete for the team gold medals at next month’s European Cross-Country Championships in Albufeira.

The Corkman, a final year student at Florida State University had a sensational victory in the South Regional Cross-Country in Birmingham, Alabama recently, where he beat several Kenyan athletes including Barnabas Kirui who ranks among the favourites for next Monday’s NCAAs.

In the process O Lionáird, who runs for Leevale AC back here, set a new pb for 10k at 30:03.34 and, after winning what is regarded as the toughest of the regionals, he will go to the NCAAs among the favourites.

He trained through last Saturday’s race in preparation for the NCAA Championships and the European championships in mid December.

“I am 100% committed to running for Ireland at Euro Cross should they see fit to select me,” he said. “I have done long tempo sessions all year to lengthen my peak to encompass the Euros.

“Given that Dave McCarthy is also fit and talented and David Rooney ran well, coupled with the guys at home, I think not just medals but gold team medals should be an attainable team objective.”

Another Irish athlete, Hollie Knight (Auburn) finished sixth in the women’s to qualify for the NCAAs and she, too, has her sights on the Europeans.

At the South Central Regional Championships in Waco, Texas, Dubliner David Rooney (McNeese State) finished sixth to claim his place in the NCAAs clocking 30:23.5 for the 10k race.

O Lionáird, however, has claimed the spotlight with what was his first major win in the US. Since switching colleges he is enjoying a consistent run of form under coach Bob Braman at Florida State and continues to be advised by his former coach at Leevale, Der O’Donovan. After finishing a close-up fourth in the Conference he decided to train right through Saturday’s race in preparation for the NCAA championships and, ultimately, the Europeans but his race took on a new dimension with 2kms remaining.

“It felt very easy,” he said. “I just relaxed off the back of the front group. People kept dropping off and all of a sudden I had 2k to go and there was only four of us left. I let the Alabama Kenyans lead us away from the Florida South African and then with 400 metres to go I just looked at coach (Bob Braman) and he told me to just win it so I kicked for 300m and could ease up the last 100m.

“It gives me a lot of confidence going into the nationals.

“I am running lower mileage than last year and am just trying to stay healthy. I missed the first half of the year with a herniated back disc and since June I’ve just been building slowly – getting fitter by the week and am ready to do some big things, hopefully in the next few weeks.

“The secret is simple: consistency. No high mileage. No crazy weights. Just simple, consistent training with some tempo intervals and good diet, sleep, etc. Coach Braman has done a great job in coaching me and Der (O’Donovan) has been unbelievable in his advice which has kept me staying with moderation all season. ”