Hennessy elected to European Council

LIAM HENNESSY, President of Athletics Ireland, was elected to the Council of European Athletics at the European Athletics Congress in London.

Hennessy, who has held several positions on the executive in more than 30 years of athletics administration, is one of a number of new additions to the 13-strong council. The only other Irish official to be elected to the council was Al Guy, who was also a member of the IAAF Technical Committee.

And, in another tribute to Irish athletics administration, Nick David was reelected to the Development Committee for a third term and Pierce O’Callaghan was elected to the Competition Committee.

Meanwhile Joan Healy (Bandon AC) posted her qualifying standard for the European juniors after winning the opening heat of the women’s 100m (11.95) at the Leevale Open Sports at the CIT Track, Bishopstown, on Saturday.

Top international, Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC), would steal the limelight with another sparkling treble in the 100m final, the 200m and the long jump but the Irish schools senior champion — a student at Colaiste Na Toirbhirte — had a day to remember. The 18-year-old schoolgirl opted out of a relay squad session in Dublin but the decision paid dividends.

Proper, in her first competition of the outdoor season, was delighted with her treble and claimed the athlete of the meeting title. She won the 100m in 11.71 from Healy and Sarah Murray (Fingallians). The Ferrybank athlete went on to win the 200m in 24.11 and the long jump with a best of 6.18.

Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC) got his outdoor season underway with a double, winning the 100m in 10.70 secs from Ballymena sprinter, Dean Adams, (10.84) and David Killeen from the host club (11.03) before claiming his main event, the 200m, in 21.98 secs. He said: “Olympic qualification is the big aim now. The 20.60 standard is very achievable.”

Niall Tuohy (Ferrybank AC) continued his rehabilitation from injury with an impressive victory in the 800m, leading all the way to cross the line in 1.50.95 with Dean Cronin (Blarney/Inniscarra) second in 1:53.94 and Ronan Duggan (Bandon AC) third in 1:56.16.

Ben Kiely (Ferrybank AC) qualified for the European Youth Olympics with a 53.66 victory over Tim Crowe (Dooneen AC), 53.76, in the 400m hurdles. But there was disappointment for Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC) who missed out on qualification by just .04 of a second when finishing third in the senior men’s 3,000m. Mark Hanrahan (Leevale AC) won the race in 8:17.34 with second position going to James McCarthy (East Cork AC) in 8:39.44.

Meanwhile David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers) posted his qualifying standard for the European U23 championships with an 8:52 for the steeplechase at the Mount Sac Relays while clubmate, Mark Kenneally made an impressive marathon debut with a 2:17.22 in Vienna yesterday.