Flying Finnegan to take on Kenyans in world youth final
The Irish schools intermediate champion finished fourth in yesterday’s semi-final in 3:52.60, which was good enough to get him through as one of the three fastest losers.
His race was won by Jonathan Kiplimo Sawe of Kenya in 3:48.35 from Robbie Farnham-Rose of Great Britain 3:50.89 and Lorenzo Dini of Italy (3:52.14).
Shane Fitzsimons (Mullingar Harriers) went out in the second of the three semi-finals when he finished seventh in 3:57.18. That race was won by another Kenyan, Vincent Kiprotich Mutai, in 3:47.66 from Fayid Murad of Ethiopia in 3:48.00 and Britain’s James McMurray in 3:50.16.
The final takes place on Sunday at 3.45pm Irish time.
Megan Kiely (Ferrybank AC), who ran brilliantly in Wednesday’s first round heats, made her exit from the girls’ 400m hurdles when she finished last in her semi-final in 63.23 secs.
Ireland’s big medal hope, Kate Veale of West Waterford, goes in the final of the girls’ 5k walk this afternoon (3.15pm).
The 16-year-old Dungarvan girl will renew rivalry with Youth Olympics champion Anna Clemente (Italy) but the two Russians who finished ahead of her in the junior race at the European Cup of Race Walking in the Algarve are replaced by newcomers to the scene. Yuli Capcha (Peru) will go to the line as favourite with a best time of 21:53.80, but Veale, Clemente and one of the new Russians, Olga Nacharkina, will have a major say.
Veale had a medal in her grasp at last year’s Youth Olympics until Clemente came storming through to win but, in the European Cup, over 10k, she had managed to keep the Italian behind her in fourth when she won her bronze.
According to her coach, Olympian Jamie Costin, she also wanted to compete in the upcoming European junior championships but they have decided against that.
“She wanted to do the European 10k in a week’s time but we concentrated on 5k and we won’t do both,” he said.
“Two major championships in such a short space of time would be a big ask.
“It is difficult to judge form at youths level but the Chinese and the Russians will be there. She could finish eighth or she could get close to the medals but she is a very strong girl mentally and she won’t leave anything behind.
“At the youth Olympics in Singapore she got close to a medal and she won a medal at European junior level and if she can do the same again and repeat the performance we won’t have any regrets.”
Carlow schoolboy Marcus Lawler (St Laurence O’Toole AC) will compete in the 200m heats today (12 noon).
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