McGettigan: it felt like Mosney all over again
The 28-year-old, produced a season’s best 9:28.92 to finish second behind Russian Tatiana Petrova in the second heat of an event making its debut in the Olympics. In the first heat, Ireland’s other representative, Fionnula Britton, was tenth with another season’s best 9:43.57 but failed to qualify.
“I was a little bit nervous but I was expecting those nerves,” said McGettigan.
“To be honest it felt like Mosney all over again. That is my outlook on it all.
“There is the exact same buzz, going around in the uniform wearing the ID and using the food hall. Ten years later it feels I’m still at Mosney.”
McGettigan, ranked tenth in the world last year, was never outside the top five – a strategy which she had planned in advance.
“I wanted to be in the top four at all times and whatever that took I wanted to be in the top four and just make sure of it. There was not point in playing it safe and taking it easy, I wanted to make that final and I knew I had to get out there and perform.
“I could feel the pace slow down and I felt great.”
Today will be about rest and recuperation, and spending some time with her boyfriend who has travelled from America. McGettigan will also be on the phone to discuss race tactics with her coach, Ray Treacy at Providence College.
“I am going to go back and talk to my coach and listen to him. Last time I got carried away in Osaka at the World Championships (when she finished 10th). I will stick to the plans this time,” she vowed.
The much hyped heat and humidity of Beijing failed to upset the Irishwoman.
“It was a beautiful night for racing,” she said of the 40% humidity. “The conditions in Matsue (Ireland’s pre Olympic training camp) were way hotter and way harder.
“This feels like a relief.”
Meanwhile, Alistair Cragg finished eighth in his heat of the 1500m (3:44.90), leaving him to concentrate solely on his favoured 5000m.
“I fell asleep for about ten metres and next thing I looked up in the back straight and I knew it was over. There was no way that I could close in on those guys,” he said of the race’s turning point entering the last lap. But he thinks the race served its purpose ahead of his 5000m outing on Wednesday.
“I got exactly what I wanted. I am just disappointed in how I did it. I felt a semi-final was on the cards but I had not been healthy.”
Cragg, coached by John McDonnell in Arkansas, was troubled by an Achilles injury in recent weeks. But last night he insisted he’s fully fit now.
“Going into London I felt something was wrong. I had a little tiredness in my calf and in the race I slugged out there. That day felt like a training run. I ran in Monaco and it was sore the whole way and after Gothenburg, I didn’t want to go down that road again. So I got it treated. I had this injury for two years and now it is gone completely.”
He added: “I feel perfect. This is my best preparation for any major championship. Matsue could not have been better and the weather is great and so is the village — it is so compact and there are no complaints from any of the athletes. The weather is not bad. If that is an issue then you have bigger problems in the sport. There will be tougher days.”
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