Running legend Coghlan leads son John up the Garden path

NEW YORK’S legendary Millrose Games will roll back the years for its 99th year next week when the name Coghlan is announced for the mile at Madison Square Garden.

It won’t be “Chairman of the Boards” Eamonn Coghlan going to the line next Friday, February 3, but his son John, who will be running in the Jumbo Elliott Boys High School Mile.

It’s his first race on an indoor oval and one of the toughest ones on the circuit, with tighter turns than usual and a mile taking 11 laps rather than the standard eight. The Castleknock teenager is the 2005 All-Ireland Schools Intermediate Boys’ 1,500 metres champion and is coached by his famous father, who won seven Wanamaker Miles at the Garden in 11 years between 1977 and 1987.

Now aged 52, Coghlan said of his son’s imminent appearance: “I think I’ll be more nervous than I ever was before my many races in the Garden. I know how my dad felt now. Anyhow, we are low key about it ourselves. If he wasn’t good enough to run, I would not have him there.”

Coghlan senior told US news service Eastern Track: “I actually mentioned the possibility to John a year ago and he came back to me before Christmas and reminded me of my suggestion. So, I contacted Howard Schmertz (honorary Millrose Meet Director) to seek an invitation. “John is a very low-key, conservative type of kid. He just does what I suggest in training and does not question it. He runs five days a week and never has run more than 40 miles a week. “Last year as a soph he won the All-Ireland Intermediate Schools 1500m. His best time is 4:03 (1500m) and 1:58 for 800m. But note, just like me, he is coached to win, not run for times. Times will come with the wins and they’re more important after high school years when the athlete can handle the physical demands.

“As I said, we’re low key about it. This is just an opportunity to give the kid a chance to experience the Garden crowd. I’ll show him an indoor track next week and teach the turns.”