US coach not surprised by McDonagh’s form
“He was brilliant and there is more to come,” the American insisted yesterday. “I have not been doing much work with him since he came back home but he left the States in brilliant form and I knew he was ready to jump that and beyond.”
Unfortunately, the Meath man suffered a recurrence of an Achilles injury and, since the BUPA Cork City Sports, has been treated by Gerard Hartmann at his Limerick clinic.
“He appears to be OK again and I won’t be surprised if he does a really big jump in Switzerland on August 27,” predicted Doyle, who also coaches world and Olympic long jump champion, Dwight Phillips.
McDonagh set the old Irish record at eight metres in the final of the long jump at the world championships in Seville in 1999 but has been injured for most of the time since, missing two Olympics Games and then this year’s world championships in Helsinki.
“It was a fitting end to a memorable week for Irish athletics,” the President of the Athletics Association of Ireland, Michael Heery, said yesterday.
“What those athletes did at the world student games was outstanding - a silver medal and four bronze. It certainly made up in some way for the disappointment of Helsinki.”
He was full of praise for his fellow Meathman who broke the long jump record but pointed out that the performances in the European junior championships, the European Youth Olympics and the world youth championships were also exceptional.
“For Colin Costello and Danny Darcy to take the gold and silver medals in the 1,500m - the blue riband event at the European junior championships was a truly outstanding achievement,” he said. “But it only reflects the wealth of young talent at our disposal and we will do everything to bring that potential to fruition.
“When we had the likes of Sonia O’Sullivan, Mark Carroll and Catherina McKiernan producing the goods for us we may have neglected the younger athletes but all that is about to end,” he insisted.
“We are not going to hang around waiting for things to happen. I would want to see four full teams, senior and junior men and senior and junior women, at this year’s European cross-country championships.
He said he had discussed the matter with International Secretary, Liam Hennessy, and they were already working on plans.
Meanwhile the Strategic Plan is being presented to county boards around the country and Gary Owens was in Cork last week for a meeting.
“We want to show the grassroots that they have nothing to fear,” Michael Heery said. “Everyone agrees there has to be change. We have our shortcomings and our failings and we are ready to admit that. Now is the time for change.”
The EGM in Portlaoise was successful from a number of points of view and he said that he welcomed that meeting. “It proved that the County Boards are interested and that they are concerned and it provided us with an opportunity to allay any of their fears. I think we addressed all their concerns and when they meet to vote on the plan in November they will have had the opportunity to have their say on them.”
“To me coaching is of paramount importance. This association is all about athletes and I want to see a first class coaching structure in place that will cater for all their needs,” he said. “Coaching is my priority.
“And I also want to see closer liaison between ourselves and the organisers of the big mass running events like the Dublin City Marathon and the various mini marathons,” he said. “In recent years we have run the national marathon championship in conjunction with the adidas Dublin City Marathon and I would like to see our other road championships run in conjunction with other big road races.”
AAI have already advertised for a CEO and Financial Officer, the closing date for interviews has arrived and they are now preparing to hold those interviews.
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