O’Donnell sets new Irish Junior record in Italy.
FOR years now we have been warned that athlete Christopher O’Donnell is one to look out for, a name to remember.
O’Donnell has ensured that people are watching him and keeping an eye with his numerous national titles over the years.
But the Grange native added another notch to his belt over the weekend when he not only earned a new personal best at the European Under 20 Championships in Italy, but he also broke the record time for the 400 metres, previously held by Brian Gregan.
O’Donnell finished sixth in the final overall, and although initially disappointed, when hindsight kicked in O’Donnell realised the extent of his achivement.
Coach Roddy Gaynor has been working with O’Donnell for some time now, and at the start of the season, the initial goal for the 19-year-old was to qualify for the Championships.
“The goal at the start of the year for Christopher was to make the Championships. When he got the qualifying time we reviewed that and said to make the final, then his goal was to go all out and win a medal,” he told The Sligo Champion.
In a high quality race, O’Donnell may not have finished in a medal position, but he faced top opposition.
“The race was the highest quality finish for top six for the championship. There were seven guys in it believing they could win it.
“Immediately afterwards Christopher was a bit disappointed but to take the record held by Brian Gregan is just tremendous,” he added.
They say the world is a small place and O’Donnell discovered that when he was contacted by Martyn Rooney, a British athlete.
Rooney has previously won silver at the European Junior Championships in the 400m race, while also clocking up a string of medals in the World Juniors and Seniors, European Seniors and an Olympic bronze medal.
“He is in Loughboro University, where Christopher is going in September. Martyn’s mother is from Knappagh Road in Sligo so he reached out to Chris on Twitter,” explained Roddy.
“12 years ago at the Euro juniors he ran slower than Chris but he won a silver. So there’s that connection there.
“Christopher’s time would have won a medal last year,” added Roddy.
Having worked with O’Donnell for four years, his coach is better placed than most to assess his talent.
“He’s immensely talented. His dedication is extraordinary, he is single-minded and focused. He dedicates everything to it, his training, his lifestyle, his diet, everything.
“There’s a joke in the Irish camp about him never having a soft drink or a desert because he never does.
“I’m always reluctant to say that an athlete will go on to the Olympics or something but Chris ticks all the boxes,” he said, paying tribute to the undoubtedly talented athlete.
While Roddy’s direct coaching role with Chris will end in September, he says he will continue to act as a mentor.
“He will be joining a world class coach in Loughboro,” he said.
“We’ve been working together for four years. At the start he was still playing football and in the Sligo/Leitrim set-up so he was making his mind up at the time.
“He was also running 100 and 200 metres so we decided to experiment a bit with the 400 metres and it just suited him straight away,” he added.
Roddy wasn’t the only one to pay tribute to the talented athlete.
Brian Gregan, whose record was broken by O’Donnell, wrote on Twitter: -”Glued to my phone after my @ irishathletics heat. Delighted to see my NJR (national junior record) go to a gent. Bright things ahead for Chris.”
David Gillick wrote on Twitter: “Irish U20 record. Well done Chris. Some progress this weekend! Onwards.”