Ó Lionáird misses out in Athlone

By Dave Hooper

Qatar’s Mutaz Bashirm was just centimetres off setting a new World high jump record at tonight’s AIT international arena, as Ciarán Ó Lionáird ran out of gas.

Ó Lionáird stepped into the futuristic Athlone arena aiming to become the first man to break the four minute mile in Ireland, but ran out of gas on the final two laps.

The Corkman held second place behind American Ben Blankenship with two laps remaining, though was unable to stick the pace and eventually finished in tenth position.

“Something is just off,” admitted Ó Lionáird afterwards. “I’m not sure what it is, maybe it’s coming down from altitude, but it’s just not there at the moment.”

“I’ll have to make my mind up on the National Championships,” added Ó Lionáird, who has until Sunday to qualify for next month’s European Indoor Championships.

“Not much can change over just two days,” explained Ó Lionáird. “I’ll have to talk it over with my coach and decide what to do.”

The packed Westmeath venue was lifted as Qatar’s World high jump champion Mutaz Bashirm set a new World lead for 2015 with a jump of 2.41 meters.

Bashirm had the capacity crowd on their feet and applauding at his final attempt of three World record attempts, catching the barrier on as he glided through the sky.

“It was a fantastic night,” admitted Bashirm after his World record attempt. “The crowd where great and when I need some encouragement they joined right in.”

“I had a couple of goes at the record,” smiled Bashirm. “I needed the crowd on the last one and they were right there to help out.”

The Athlone IT campus was packed to the rafters with organisers installing an extra 500 seats due to demand and were treated to two new Irish all comers records.

American Ben Blankenship became the first man to run a sub four minute mile in Ireland clocking three minutes 56.75 seconds.

Bashirm Word lead high jump extended seven-year-old record by 15 centimetres.

European Indoor Championship bound Ciara Everard tired in the final 100 meters to finish third in the four lap 800 meters.

Everard hit the front just before the bell before being caught by Dane Stina Troest and on the line by Britain’s Katy Brown.

Troest came home in 2:04.54 - ahead of Everard taking third in 2:05.64, who will now focus on winning the national indoor title this weekend.

Former World record holder Asafa Powell pulled out of the 60 meters just moments before competing after injuring his groin in the warm up.

The Jamaican who completed a doping suspension last year, said he would return to Athlone in 2016.