Declan Murray out to make amends
“I was told I stepped on the line right before the break and tried to make an appeal, but without video evidence that wasn’t going to be overturned,” explained Murray of his disqualification.
He sees the positive side going into the European Indoor Championships in Prague on March 6-8: “Though I’ll have a lane to myself at Europeans, I see it as a blessing in disguise as I’ll know to watch my feet in Prague when it counts.”
Murray (Clonliffe Harriers) went on a training camp with English (UCD) in Stellenbosch, South Africa in January and is happy with the progress he made as he builds towards the Europeans.
“Stellenbosch was perfect conditions for a camp for us to get in some key sessions I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to do otherwise,” said Murray, who was born and raised in Detroit and played GAA for the Detroit Wolfe Tones. His family hail from Youghal in Cork and Gurteen in Sligo.
“I had definitely been lacking in speed endurance going into camp so getting a few specific workouts was important going into the distance medley relay in New York and in preparation for Europeans.”
Murray made his Irish debut at the European outdoors in Zurich in August and takes to the heats of the men’s 800m this afternoon while English will compete at the Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham today and then come home for the final on Sunday.
The main focus is the European indoors with the nationals a rubber-stamp of his selection. “The biggest focus of the indoors has always been Euros, so not feeling sharp early on hasn’t worried me, keeping Euros in mind. I’m excited to go and take a stab at making the final. Once you’re in the race, anything can happen.”
Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) and Claire Tarplee will also miss the first day of the championships as they seek European qualification in Birmingham in the 3,000m (9:00.00) and the 1500m (4:14.00) respectively – both will run the 1500m final tomorrow.
Treacy had her best performance last week when she won the women’s 3,000m in 9:06.23 at the British Indoor Championships against a top quality field including 2011 world 1500m silver medallist Hannah England.
“Last week’s race was brilliant,” said Treacy, who is based in Birmingham as a junior doctor.
“It was a really good, competitive race where we had to combine running fast with tactical running and there were so many good girls in it. It was the last race of the day and the atmosphere had been building. I felt good in the last couple of laps so when I saw my opportunity I took it.
“I don’t think I was as surprised as everyone else anyway. I’d been doing some good stuff in training and I knew going in I was in good shape. I’d put top three down as the target but you always want to win.”
Now she will have to take advantage of another opportunity in Birmingham today to run a European qualifying time. “I feel pretty good,” she said of her chances.
“I’m really excited to be racing in the Grand Prix. It’s a great meet. I watched a friend from college run the world championship qualifier there a few years ago and I’ve wanted to race it ever since.
“I’m trying not to get carried away either though, last weekend was great but this is another race and will be very different. I think if I run smart and hard I can do the time but ultimately I just want to have a good race so we’ll see.”
The national women’s 1500m should prove to be one of the races of the championships, as UCD’s Ciara Mageean will also toe the line.
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