Byrne London-bound as Connolly fails

LINDA BYRNE (Dundrum/South Dublin) claimed her place at next year’s Olympic Games in London when she finished sixth in yesterday’s National Lottery Dublin Marathon in 2:36:21 which was just inside the “A” standard set by Athletics Ireland at 2:37.

It was a huge achievement for the young Dubliner who, according to her coach, former international Enda Fitzpatrick, reached a cross-roads in her career after a disappointing showing in the European cross-country championships in Dublin in 2009.

Fortunately she took the right direction when she opted to run some road races to make money after she had lost her funding — she had been carded on the back of two fourth place finishes in the European junior cross-country championships followed by sixth and 10th places, respectively, at under 23 level.