Irish medal prospects bright for World University Games

AN Irish team including a number of medal prospects was unveiled at Trinity College Dublin yesterday ahead of next month’s World University Games in Izmir, Turkey.

Eighty-three athletes from eight sports will join 9,000 competitors from 169 other countries for the ten-day event, now ranked second behind only the Olympic Games themselves in size and importance.

“The Games are the pinnacle of achievement for student sports people,” said Chef de Mission and former Dublin football manager Mickey Whelan. “We have some outstanding talent and, if things go well, I believe we can come home with medals.”

Ireland’s best ever performance was in 1991 when Sonia O’Sullivan (1500m), Niall Bruton (1500m) and Gary O’Toole (200m breastroke) all won gold. O’Sullivan, who was studying in Villanova University in the US at the time, also picked up a silver in the 3000m.

The last Games in Daegu, Korea in 2003 saw Paul Hession win silver in the 200m while Michael Williamson took bronze in the 200m breastroke. Hession will compete again in Izmir and will be one of the team’s main medal hopes.

While European Indoor champion David Gillick was named on the team yesterday, it was felt that he would not travel. However, it has been confirmed that the 22-year old had flight arrangements changed last Tuesday with the expressed purpose of accommodating the World Championships in Helsinki (August 6-14), Izmir and his brother’s wedding on August 21.

Although Helsinki and Izmir overlap slightly, the athletics programmes do not, though it still remains to be seen if Gillick actually competes in the 400m. Both Tomas Coman and Rob Daly, who are part of the 400m relay team with Gillick, may yet qualify to race the individual event ahead of him.

Were Gillick to compete, he would obviously be a serious medal contender. The DIT student underwent an MRI scan on a back injury yesterday and, though he should be fit in time for next month, he is unlikely to make this weekend’s Nationals in Morton Stadium.

There has been some controversy over the naming of the women’s 100m competitors with some athletes threatening to boycott the 4x100m if Emily Maher were selected. Maher was listed for the 100m in yesterday’s press release while Ailish McSweeney, who has already achieved the qualifying time, was not, though the Nationals are likely to play a large part in deciding the places.

Meanwhile, after having her Olympic experience in Athens seriously compromised by illness last year, 100m hurdler Derval O’Rourke is again running some encouraging times and she admitted yesterday that a semi-final place in Helsinki and a medal in Izmir were her goals for August.

“I’m running 13.10 consistently right now and it’s very easy for me. When I ran 12.96 two years ago I went straight from 13.20 to 12.96. I’m consistently way quicker and in much better shape.”

O’Rourke has called on the services of nutritionist Andrea Cullen, who also works with the Munster rugby team, to aid her preparations. Since Athens, she has been completely free from both illness and injury.

However, she has been held back by an inability to get a race in one of the major circuit races, though the Cork native is currently on a waiting list for next week’s meet in Stockholm.

Another serious medal possibility will be the women’s soccer team, who boast 12 full internationals in their panel. They managed a highly respectable seventh spot in their first Games in Korea.

The women’s basketball team - six of whom are full internationals - will also be looking to emulate their fine display in Daegu where they finished ninth.

Ciara Peelo in sailing’s Laser Radical class is another who will be watched with interest. The Ohio State University student has already been earmarked for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.