O’Donoghue turns on power at new stadium
David McCarthy (Le Cheile) just missed the standard at 400m and James Nolan failed by 0.13 of a second in his bid to run a sub four-minute mile.
It was one of those meets that left fans looking for more and Nolan promised to return next year and give them their first sub four-minute mile after he failed narrowly in this inaugural attempt, winning the race in 4:00.13 secs.
Colin Rothery, a world masters middle distance champion, had made the pace for the opening two laps taking the field to half way in 1:58. “He did a magnificent job,” Nolan insisted. “But then it was all ruined on the third lap. I found myself running up on top of Steve Slattery.” Slattery, who represented the USA in the steeplechase at the world championships in Helsinki last week appeared to get in the way when Nolan loomed up, tracked by the national champion, Gary Murray (St Malachy’s). He grabbed the lead but when they reached the bell it was clear it was going to take a super human effort to achieve his ambition.
“I just could not do it. There was too much to do,” he said apologetically afterwards. “But I promise I will be back next year and I will do it.” Next weekend he will compete over the mile distance in the farewell meet for Kelly Holmes in Sheffield.
Jer O’Donoghue repeated his Cork City Sports performance when he won the men’s 100m in 10.45 secs, the wind was legal and it will be listed as his personal best and his qualifying standard for next year’s European championships in Gothenburg.
“I knew it was there all season,” he said. “I should have done it in the national championships but I really messed that up. Doing it here tonight compensates for that and I know that I can run faster.
“I am stronger this year. Since I changed coaches to John Stacey I have been getting stronger. I had a terrible June, sickness and all that, but I got over it.” Another Kerry athlete, Eoin Leen, also recorded a personal best when he threw the discus 52.77m for a home win.
The newly crowned national champion finished seventh in the shot putt at the world youths championships in 2001 but injured his elbow a couple of years ago.
“I continued to train for the shot with the injury and that was a mistake,” he said. “This year I have been concentrating on the discus and it has been going well for me.”
David McCarthy lined up alongside the national record holder, Paul McKee, in the 400m and both came away beaming. McCarthy dipped under 47 seconds for the first time this season when he won in 46.92 secs and that was just fractionally outside the qualifying standard for the European championships.
McKee, who has also been struggling with injury, was delighted with his second place in 47.35 in a thrilling finish with Cilliers Okkert from South Africa, in third.
“To run under 47 seconds makes it all worthwhile. It has been a difficult season,” McCarthy said. “I know it is late in the season but it gives me something to work on over the winter. This was just my fourth 400m race this season,” McKee said. “From that point of view it was heartening but obviously I would like to have run faster,” he added.
Ciara Sheehy, too, walked away wondering just what might have been if her performance had come earlier in the season, after she out-sprinted Joyce Madujaka in an exciting finish to the women’s 200m, in 23.50 secs.
“It has been a frustrating season in some ways,” she said. “But this win was important to me. We met in the AAA championships and then she beat me in the Dublin International so I really wanted to win here tonight. Now it is three each,” she added.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
