Irish boost as women retain first division status

THE Irish women’s athletics team have retained their first division status in the European Cup.

Ireland will compete in next year’s competition following a meeting yesterday by the European Athletics Association.

“Following the EAA Council decision that nine teams will compete at the 2006 SPAR European Cup, only three teams will be relegated from the European Cup First League instead of the usual four - to retain eight men’s and eight women’s teams in the competition,” a spokesperson explained.

“In order to decide which teams will remain in the First League in 2006, the scores of the teams finishing seventh in the First League Groups A and B have been compared using the IAAF scoring tables. In the men’s competition Croatia finished seventh in the First League Group A match in Gävle and Ireland seventh in the First League Group B match in Leiria. A comparison of the teams’ performances according to the IAAF scoring tables gives Croatia 19257 points and Ireland 18966 points so Croatia will remain in the First League in 2006.

“In the women’s competition the two seventh placed teams were Norway (Group A) and Ireland (Group B). The points comparison gives Norway 19735 points and Ireland 20023 points so Ireland remain in the First League.”

Meanwhile John Coghlan produced a finish reminiscent of his famous father, Eamonn, to win the 1,500m at the KitKat Irish schools championships and it could take more of the same to beat Kevin Cooper (Waterpark) at the Schools Interprovincial at Tullamore this afternoon.

Another exciting day is promised at the Midland venue where Brendan O’Neill (St. Michael’s, Dublin) will be chasing the 1988 record set by Niall Bruton at 8:43.0 in the 3,000m.

Conditions did not favour the young Dubliner at the Irish schools championships but this is a record that is well within his grasp. Amy Foster (Glenola Collegiate), in the sprints, and Niamh Whelan (Presentation Waterford), 80m hurdles, broke records that day.

The Waterford athletes are in superb form of late and there has been an exciting rivalry between Kalyn Sheahan (Ursuline) and Mairead Murphy (Mercy), which continues over the 300m hurdles.

Another Waterford girl, Jessie Barr (Ursuline) will renew rivalry with Pamela Hughes (Kings Hospital) in the high jump, while Sarah Treacy, whose mother, Siobhan is a former international, will again fight out the 1,500m with Suzanne Huet (Loreto, Foxrock). And there will be another exciting contest in the hammer involving Linda Cronin (Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig) and Katie O’Shea (Presentation, Milltown).