Onwards and upwards for in-form Ó Lionáird
The Florida State graduate was to compete against defending champion, Alistair Cragg, in the 5,000m but has changed his mind following his 3:34.46 performance which gave him his “A” standard for the upcoming world championships in Daegu and next year’s Olympic Games.
After running big personal bests for 10,000 and 5,000m in the US while finishing his scholarship, he followed up with a pb for 3,000m and a sub four minute mile when he returned home. However, he admitted that knocking almost six seconds off his previous best for 1,500m came as a surprise.
“Obviously I was surprised to knock the time down by that much — it was a shock,” he said. “I knew I was capable of a pb but I never got into a race that went out fast enough.
“After the race in Ghent I had a fair few beers and I said ‘I’m done for the season’. Then the lads told me the problem was I did not get a fast race all season and told me about the race (in Oordegem). This was 1am in the morning and I sobered up and thought about it.”
The ‘lads’ included Beijing Olympian, Nate Bramman, and another Canadian who shares the same agent and he persuaded the Cork man to join them. And the rest is history.
“Maybe at times it is better not to plan too much,” he continued. “This is a huge monkey off my back and now I just have to worry about staying healthy and getting ready. I would like to try for the 5k standard because I think of myself as a 5k runner. Training can get you a certain level of fitness but the sharpness comes with races. I have had an opportunity to work on race tactics and I have been finishing in the top three in all my races so it’s not like I’m running 3:34 and finishing 10th in a 3:32 race.”
The 800m over the weekend will be a new experience, however.
“I think my pb was 1:54 some years ago,” he said. “But my best 800m was probably for the middle 800m in the 1,500m this week when I ran 59, 56 and 55 laps for 1:51. I’m excited about this race.”
The top two from last year, Thomas Chamney and Darren McBrearty, are absent but Anthony Leighio, who was third, is back after some big performances at the European U23 championships where he made the final of the 800m while Mark English (Letterkenny AC) can put the disappointment of failing to make the final at the European juniors by adding the outdoor title to his indoor success earlier in the year.
Most of the athletes who have performed so magnificently at the recent world youths championships and European U23 and junior championships will be in action over the weekend including Kate Veale (West Waterford) who won the gold medal in the 5k walk at the world youths championships in Lille and will try to defend her title at that distance. World silver medallist, Olive Loughnane, will again be absent as she has remained on in Spain to train for the world championships while Robert Heffernan will be missing from the men’s 10k walk as he continues his preparation for a double up in Daegu where he plans to add the Olympic 50k standard to his 20k standard which he achieved early in the season.
TODAY’S 5k walk will provide fans with an opportunity to see world youth champion, Kate Veale, in action. Since her sensational performance in Lille she has broken Gillian O’Sullivan’s senior record for 3k and could be set for another record breaking performance here.
Ciarán Ó Lionaird will be a star after his sensational performance in Belgium when he achieved the Olympic “A” standard for 1,500m with a 3:34.46 run. Today he will drop down to 800m where he faces Anthony Leighio (Tallaght AC) who made the final at the European U23 championships and the exciting Letterkenny teenager, Mark English, who won the senior indoor title last February.
European junior silver medallist, Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn), lines up alongside Orla Drumm (UCC AC) and Sarah Louise Treacy (Moynalvey AC), a finalist in the European U23 championships in Ostrava, in the 1,500m. Mageean, with a collection of medals from world youths and junior championships has the Olympic “A” standard as her target.
Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers), Euro U23 championships 400m silver medallist last month, will compete in today’s 200m alongside national record holder, Paul Hession (Athenry) and Stephen Colvert (Crusaders).
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