Forsyth eyeing second chance
ADEFIANT Ryan Forsyth promised to lead an Irish resurgence in distance-running after missing out on a medal by one agonising second yesterday at the European Cross Country Championships.
The 22-year-old, US-born athlete produced the standout run of the day from the men and women in green in what was his first appearance in an Irish vest, finishing fourth in the U-23 men’s race.
‘I wanted to medal – that was my intention and I believed I could do it,’ said Forsyth, who helped the team to sixth place at the Beekse Bergen Safari Park, which is on the outskirts of the Dutch city of Tilburg.
‘I was really pleased how the team did and I can’t wait to race with the lads again. We can only grow as a country if we have a great group of guys who push each other.’
Forsyth is a final-year student at the University of Colorado and a native of Baltimore, but is eligible to represent Ireland via his mother, Zoe, a native of Comber in County Down.
Indeed he beamed with pride when he discussed what it meant to represent his mother’s home nation. ‘It feels great and I’m really excited for what the future holds. Believe me: I’ll be back and I’ll be on the podium.’
Ireland’s chief medal hope yesterday was 17-year-old Sarah Healy, who was one of the favourites for the U-20 women’s title, but the Dubliner’s plans got bogged down in the Dutch mud when she was clipped and fell to the ground midway through the 4,300m race.
Healy bravely bounced back to her feet and tried to close down the leaders, but by then the pace was on up front and she couldn’t get back to the front. She came home ninth, just behind teammate Emma O’Brien who had a storming run to finish eighth.
An ambitious start from Stephanie Cotter saw the Irish lead the team event at halfway, but Cotter was unable to sustain the pace and faded to 25th, the Irish slipping to sixth – just three points outside the medals.
But Healy took the defeat with the good-natured grace and perspective that is rare in one so young.
‘I was proud that I didn’t give up. It’s been a lot of fun, and apart from the race it’s been the championship I’ve enjoyed the most. It’s my first one so I’ll learn from it and go again.”
Healy will still be underage for the U-20 race in 2020 when the championships are in Dublin and if her progression continues she could well reign supreme on that day. An athlete with similar plans is Sean Tobin, who had the best run of the Irish in the senior races, finishing 10th in the men’s race.
‘It’s a step forward,’ said Tobin, who also looked to 2020. ‘Now the focus is on. Hopefully I can give the home crowd something to cheer about.’
Kevin Dooney was next home for the Irish in 26th with Kevin Maunsell 34th, helping the team to seventh.
There was no joy for the senior women’s team which finished 11th, but one athlete beaming with pride was Sara Treacy, who bounced back from injury to finish 26th in what was her 10th appearance at the championships.