Aiming to raise Barr in bid for seventh title heaven
INJURY, like divorce, is something you never expect to happen but should always be prepared for, so late last month when Thomas Barr felt a strain in his hamstring, he was ready.
“I had an MRI scan the next day and it was a minor grade one tear,” he said. “But it’s happened a few times before where I’ve come back with fresh legs (after an injury) so I’m not panicking. I know how to deal with it.”
Coming a little more than four weeks out from the World Championships in London, it was the last thing he needed, but a week of rest and a week of cross-training, coupled with extensive rehab exercises and treatment, has nursed him back to health ahead of this weekend’s Irish Life Health National Senior Championships in Santry. But what about his fitness?
“Going by 200m and 300m times in training, I’m already ahead of where I was last year so I’ve had a good winter,” he reflected. “I’m back on track.”
Barr shocked everyone with his exploits in Rio last year, smashing the Irish 400m hurdles record in both his semi-final and final, where he finished fourth in 47.97, an agonising 0.05 outside the medals.
“This year I have a lot more expectation,” he said, “but I know how to deal with that mentally. It’s just a case of getting (to London) physically as fit and healthy as I can.”
His main goal this Sunday is to win his seventh consecutive national title – no easy task given his training partner Paul Byrne, a 50.03 performer, is in opposition – but Barr also hopes to use it a factfinding mission.
“I’d like to go sub-50, but mainly I want to see how my speed, technical work and stride pattern is so we can tailor the last couple of weeks before London.”
In a bid to attract a bigger audience, Athletics Ireland moved the bulk of Sunday’s programme to the evening, with RTÉ broadcasting Barr’s race, among others, in a two-hour slot from 6.0pm. “That’s a great move,” said Barr. “Athletics is a minority sport in Ireland and it’s hard to get people in the gate and to tune in, so it’s great to have it prime-time on TV. We need to do all we can.” RTÉ, however, will not be airing the World Championships in London.
Another athlete in a race against time this weekend is Kerry O’Flaherty, the Olympic steeplechaser who needs to run 9:42 to make it to London. After being hampered by a calf tear this year, however, her best so far is 9:50.75. “I think a 9:42 is there but it’s about getting into a good race,” she said. “With the crowd behind us on Sunday you never know.”
Meanwhile, the European Junior Championships get under way in Grosseto, Italy today, with 10 Irish athletes in action on day one. Limerick sprinter Ciara Neville and Mayo thrower Michaela Walsh hold the best medal chances of the week for the Irish.