McCarthy on a high after stunning victory in Boston

David McCarthy came close to breaking the US collegiate record for the mile with victory in the Boston University Terrier Invite Meet on Saturday (3:55.75).

The record is held by German Fernandez (Oklahoma State) at 3:55.02 and McCarthy’s weekend performance looks set to secure him a place in next month’s Millrose Games in New York.

McCarthy’s personal best secured him a ‘Big East’ record and he was two seconds inside the qualifying standard for the NCAA indoor championships.

Yesterday he paid tribute to Providence College coach Ray Treacy for instilling confidence in him.

“I did not shy away from it — I just said ‘don’t be afraid of it’. But Ray is always giving us confidence. He reminded us the qualifying time isn’t easy. I was cautious. But I’m in unbelievable form right now. I feel fast, I feel strong.

“I have had a crazy couple of years but it doesn’t matter now. This is my last semester and I have started off as good as I can be — only two races and times are great.

“But I want to make my stamp on Nationals and I believe, running those times, that I can.

“The last few years have been so frustrating but days like this make up for it. I have always been fit but now I’m mentally the strongest I have ever been.”

Elsewhere, John Coghlan, son of Eamonn, joined his father on the list of sub four minute milers when he finished third in 3:59.32.

He is a member of the DCU team that will compete in the Distance Medley Relay at the Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden on Friday week when he will be joined by 400m runner, Brian Gregan, and the talented Letterkenny pair of middle distance runners, Mark English and Darren McBrearty.

Ciarán Ó Lionaird, a member of the 2010 European cross-country team, made the world championships 1500m final last year and qualified for the Olympics and, if on form, McCarthy could join him in London.

Also in Boston on Saturday, Providence College freshman, Shane Quinn, son of the Irish steeplechase recorder holder and Providence graduate, Brendan, qualified for the conference at 3,000m while Charlotte Ffrench O’Carroll, qualified for the women’s 3,000m.

Meanwhile Ben Reynolds of North Down AC celebrated his official switch from Great Britain to Irish Athletics with a new Irish U23 Indoor Record over 60m hurdles in Lee Valley, London yesterday. His time of 7.88 takes 0.14 seconds off John Whelan’s record of 8.02 from 1994.