Hession in a hurry as Olympics slot nailed down

PAUL HESSION returned to the scene of his fastest run to claim his place in the 200m at next year’s Olympic Games in London.

It was at the Woodies DIY National Senior Championships in Santry in 2007 where the Athenry sprinter set the national record for 200m at 20.30.

This race was not quite as fast but Hession will have little complaint as he retained his title with a 20.51 performance which puts him on the familiar path to the Olympics.

He was away quick, powerful on the bend and smooth in the finishing straight as he wiped out the opposition that included Steven Colvert (Crusaders) who made the 200m final at last month’s European U23 championships in Ostrava.

Colvert, who hails from Mullingar, was second for the second successive year in a smart time of 20.84 which was just outside the ‘B’ standard for the World Championships in Daegu with Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) third in a personal best of 21.09.

Hession admitted: “I was motivated. When I saw the conditions were good I was surprised in a good way. Santry is special to me because I broke the Irish record here. I know I can run fast here. In the race itself I knew I was going to do most damage at the start and I put it together quite well. It’s coming together at the right time. I have been unlucky with conditions in July in particular when I was ready to step it up.

“It shouldn’t get to you but it’s frustrating. I’m running a little angry because I’ve been so frustrated by the races I’ve run in — one race my start is poor, the next race the conditions are crap. Even though I know I’m capable of running the “A” standard for the Olympics, the fact is I haven’t been doing it for one reason or another.

“I didn’t want to go into next year without an Olympic “A” standard because to do that would be a distraction and you can’t plan like you would normally.

“You would have to plan for running fast too early. I’ve got four more weeks to prepare (for the world championships) and hopefully this is the year I will make the final.”

Colvert insisted he wasn’t disappointed with the result. “You can’t do anything about a performance like that. He was out on his own. Second is good in those circumstances.”

Alastair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers), with his Olympic and world championship “A” standard secured, easily retained his 5,000m title in 13:48.03 — over half a minute quicker than Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers) who won the 10,000m on Saturday.

Joanne Cuddihy (Kilkenny City Harriers) claimed her place in the 400m in Daegu when she retained her 400m title in 52.15 secs, well inside the “B” standard.

She was already Daegu-bound with the women’s 4 x 400m relay team and three other prominent members of the side, Marian Heffernan (Togher AC), Michelle Carey (Dublin Striders) and Claire Bergin (DSD) impressed as they followed her across the line.

The men’s 400m was won in style by Brian Murphy, now competing for Crusaders, who posted a smart 46.66 secs with his nearest rival, Dara Kervick (Carrick-on-Suir), second in 48.16.

Jason Smyth (City of Derry) won the 100m in 10.52 from Colvert (Crusaders), 10.75 and Dean Adams (Ballymena and Antrim), 10.89.

Amy Foster (City of Lisburn), who won the 200m on Saturday, completed the sprint double by winning the women’s 100m in 11.69 with Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank) second again in 11.76 and Joan Healy (Bandon AC) third, 11.92.