Special eight named world class by AAI

EIGHT sportspeople have been named in the Athletics Ireland’s World Class Panel, a key component of the Association’s new Performance Plan.

The goal of the plan, which will be supported, up to 85%, by the Irish Sports Council, is to develop a “comprehensive and fluid” programme to facilitate the development of world class performers.

World silver medallist Alistair Cragg and David Gillick, who won gold medals at this year’s European indoor championships, race walker Gillian O’Sullivan, a silver medallist at the last world championships, Sonia O’Sullivan, Marie Davenport, Olive Loughnane, Robert Heffernan and high jumper, Adrian O’Dwyer, are on the World Class Panel. There is also a senior panel that is comprised of 14 athletes and a relay, a development panel of 17 and a junior panel of 18.

Athletes will be identified at youth level and nurtured through from junior to World Class levels provided they achieve clearly identified benchmarks along the way.

According to the AAI’s PRO, Nick Davis, the programme will be delivered through a range of squads and camps along with an athlete injury and health monitoring programme, both of which are expected to be ready for implementation in October.

“World Class Sports Science and medical services will be delivered through a network of regional support that will be tracked through advanced software systems,” he said.

Coaches will be aided by the Personal Coach Support Programme and may apply for “modest” support grants to cover costs and enable them to travel to training camps and accompany their athletes to major competitions.

The plan outlines a comprehensive Major Competition Programme for 2005 including the European Youth Olympic Festival, the World Youth Games, the European Junior and European U23 Championships, the World Championships and the World Student Games.

Junior: C Cuddihy (KIlkenny City Harriers) 400m Hurdles; K Proper (Ferrybank) long jump; C Ó Lionaird (Leevale) 1,500m; A Gebresgi (Dublin City Harriers) 1,500m; C Costello (Star of the Sea) 800m/1,500m; L Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin) 2,000m Steeplechase; L Crowe (An Riocht) 800m; D Darcy (St. Laurence O’Toole) 800m/1,500m; R Galligan (Newbridge) 800m; D McCarthy (West Waterford) 800m/1,500m; E McWilliams (Ballymena & Antrim) 800m; L Kiernan (Fingallians) 100m; J Smyth (City of Derry) 100m/200m; A Foster (North Down) 100m/200m; A Loughnane (Craughwell) 10k Walk; R Yeates (Raheny Shamrocks) 10,000m; P Pollock (-) 1,500m; P White (Dunboyne) Hammer.

Development Panel: T Coman (Moycarkey Coolcroo) 400m; D Ryan (DSD) High Jump; M Christie (Mullingar Harriers) 5,000m; M Fagan (Mullingar Harriers) 5,000m; A Ledwith (Fr. Murphy’s) 5,000m; M Cullen (North Sligo) 5,000m/10,000m; F Britton (Sli Cualann) 3,000m Steeplechase; L Reale (Limerick AC) 800m/1,500m; T Chamney (Crusaders) 800m; A McSweeney (Leevale) 100m; J Cuddihy (KCH) 400m; M Crowe (DCH) 200m; A Boyle (Ballymena & Antrim) 100m/200m; E O’Keeffe (KCH) Hammer; C Griffin (Ballinamore) 20k Walk; D McCarthy (Le Cheile AC) 400m; C O’Connell (Glaslough Harriers) 800m.

Senior Panel: D O’Rourke (Leevale) 100m Hurdles; M McCambridge (DSD) 5,000m; J Byrne (Donore Harriers) 5,000m/10,000m; R McGettigand (Sli Cualann) 3,000m Steeplechase; 4 x 400m Relay Squad; P McKee (Beechmount Harriers) 400m and Relay; P Hession (Athenry AC) 100m/200m; J Costin (West Waterford) 50k Walk; M Carroll (Leevale) 5,000m/10,000m.

Senior Review Panel: C Sheehy (DCH) 100m/200m; P Brizzel (Ballymena & Antrim) 100m/200m; K Shinkins (DCH) 400m; G Turnbull (St. Malachy’s) 1,500m; J Nolan (UCD AC) 1,500m.

World Class Panel: A O’Dwyer (KCH) High Jump; A Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers) 5,000m/10,000m; M Davenport (Marian) 5,000m/10,000m; S O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh) 5,000m/10,000m; DGillick (DSD) 400m; G O’Sullivan (Farranfore Maine Valley) 20k Walk; O Loughnane (Loughrea) 20k Walk; R Heffernan (Togher) 20k Walk.