Injury puts Sonia out of nationals
The Olympic silver medallist was declared for the 5,000m but on the advice of Gerard Hartmann has opted for treatment on her injured foot.
David Gillick and Paul Hession are unlikely to compete but the AAI is likely to name them on the team for the world championships, pending fitness tests, when the squad is announced on Monday.
The team to represent Ireland at the World Universities Championships in Izmir, Turkey, next month is due to be unveiled at Trinity College this morning but the women sprinters will not be named until after this weekend.
Ballymena’s Anna Boyle and Leevale’s Ailish McSweeney have been under the qualifying standard (11.70 seconds) for 100m a number of times this season but there’s no guarantee both will be selected for that particular event.
On Sunday they will be joined by Emily Maher and, while team manager Patsy McGonagle says it is not a trial, he admitted should she beat either of the two and run the qualifying standard, then she will go to Turkey.
However, some athletes have threatened to boycott the 4x100m relay should Maher, a registered student in Stillorgan, be selected for the 100m.
McGonagle said they faced a similar situation at 400m where Gillick, the European indoor champion, could lose out on a place in the individual race. Gillick, who also has a B standard for the world championships in Helsinki, is almost certain to miss the championships. Tomás Coman, who has a faster time than Gillick from last year, and Rob Daly, who goes into the race with a best of 46.07 seconds, could claim the two spots on the team for the student games.
Gillick, Daly, David McCarthy, Coman, Rob Daly and Gordon Kennedy from Tullamore will comprise the squad for the 4x400m.
David McCarthy, who is getting over a long-term injury, will be back in the 400m but it is not known how fit he is.
“He has had problems with his back and missed the European U-23 championships,” coach Drew Harrison said.
“He is on the mend and should be fit to run.”
His training partner, Gary Ryan, who has had a hip problem, will also return. He has won 10 national senior championships, six at 200m and four at 100m, is entered for the 200m, but he could also run the 100m.
Both 1,500m events should be exciting. Sinead Delahunty turned back the clock to run 4:08, just short of the B standard (4:08.20) for the world championships, and she will be joined by the in-form Joelene Byrne and Mary Cullen, amongst others.
The men’s 1,500m should result in an exciting race between James Nolan, Gary Murray and Mark Christie, who have all been running around the 3:41 mark in recent weeks.
According to coach Jim Kilty,
Derval O’Rourke (Leevale) is set to run a world-class 12.8 seconds for the 100m hurdles.
“Whether or not she does it on Sunday remains to be seen, but she is ready to do it,” he said.
There will be three Leevale contenders in the men’s sprints. Jer O’Donoghue has been in the form of his life since the BUPA Cork City Sports while Derek Duff, the junior champion at both 100m and 200m, was in flying form the next day and Darren O’Donovan is the epitome of consistency.
Regardless of the controversy that has overshadowed her event, McSweeney could cause another surprise in the women’s 100m.
After superb runs at Cork City Sports and the national U-23 championships, she could and should have qualified at the European U-23 championships had she not eased up 10 metres from the line, to be pipped for second place with only two to go through.
Ciara Sheehy (DCH) will still be the one to beat in the 200m where she will be going for a 10th national title.
Last year’s junior 100m and 200m champion, Mandy Crowe, steps up in search of a senior medal.
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