Ryan leads charge for Irish honours

ATHLETICS Ireland have announced their largest ever team for the World Indoor Championships in the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham on March 14-16.

Nenagh Olympics’ Gary Ryan who confirmed himself as Ireland’s fastest ever man at the AAA Championships in Birmingham over the weekend clocking a time of 6.73 seconds for 60m leads the team.

Ciara Sheehy (Dublin City Harriers) and Derval O’Rourke (UCD) both also set new National Records over 200m and 60m Hurdles respectively.

James Nolan (UCD) has been rewarded for his recent performances in South Africa by selection while Maria Lynch, (Dundrum South Dublin) a silver medallist from Birmingham on Saturday is selected in both the 1,500m and 3,000m along with clubmate Maria McCambridge.

The team also see the historic selection of a 4 x 400m Relay squad led by National Outdoor Record holder Paul McKee, National Junior Record holder David McCarthy and Antoine Burke all of whom formed part of the team which finished fifth in the European Championships in Munich last August.

MEN: 60m: G. Ryan, 6.73, (Birmingham, 02.03.03); M. Howard, 6.77, (Cardiff 02.02.02). 200m: P. Brizzel, 20.75, (Birmingham, 02.03.03); G. Ryan, 20.99, (Birmingham, 23.02.03). 400m: P McKee, 46.54, (Stockholm, 18.02.03); D McCarthy, 46.66, (Birmingham, 24.02.02). 1500m: J Nolan, 3.38.69, (Dortmund, 27.01.02) 4x4 from McKee, Ryan, McCarthy, Brizzel, Antoine Burke, Daniel Tobin.

WOMEN: 200m: C Sheehy, 23.17, (Birmingham, 02.03.03). 400m: K Shinkins, 52.81, (Blacksburg, 14.02.03). 1500m: M Lynch, 4.15.50, (Belfast. 16.02.03). 3000m: M Lynch, 9.09.27, (Belfast, 15.02.03). M McCambridge, 9.10.02, (Belfast, 15.02.03). 60H: D O'Rourke, 8.12, (Birmingham, 02.03.03).