Excited Hession looking to peak as debut looms

THERE is no athlete more excited than sprinter Paul Hession on the eve of his Olympic debut in Beijing.

The Athenry medical student will line up for the first-round heats of the men’s 200m on Monday morning knowing that he has not yet peaked for the season.

And there will be many familiar faces around him having mixed it with the world’s leading sprinters at the major meetings across Europe — from world 100m record holder Usain Bolt to world and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner.

With a second place in the Bislett Golden League meet in Oslo and a new Irish record over 300m behind Jeremy Wariner, he won’t feel out of place here.

He is not one to get carried away but he admitted after the national championships this year that he is very excited about the Olympics and looking forward to converting his times over 100m and 300m to his primary event which is the 200m.

“If I can run the bend like I am running the 100m races at the moment and then just hang on I am going to run a really decent race,” he said.

“To be honest I am shocked to be running 10.2 for 100m right now because I came into the season wanting to push things back a bit to be just right in Beijing.

“At the national championships last year I ran 20.3 secs and I did not run any quicker for the rest of the season. I think this year, if I go to the line in that shape it will be better.

“I did not expect to run under 20.3 before the Olympics — I am really focused on doing it here and getting through the rounds better. I am more consistent over 100m at the moment and if I can transfer that into the 200m I will be very happy.”

Hession was ranked third fastest European over 200m last year and made the semi-finals in Osaka to put the finishing touches to a great year that saw him break the records at 60m indoors (6.61 secs), 100m (10.18 secs) and 200m (20.30 secs).