SWIMMING:
CHRIS O’GOLD: Chris O’Donnell of North Sligo AC, crosses the line to win the Men’s 400 metres, ahead of Andrew Mellon of Crusaders AC, Dublin, who finished second, during day two of the Irish Life Health Elite Athlete Indoor Micro Meet at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin.
RUNNING MAN: The Sligo-based John Travers of Donore Harriers AC, celebrates as he crosses the line to win the Men’s 3000 metres, ahead of Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC), during day one of the Irish Life Health Elite Athlete Indoor Micro Meet at Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. and he ran 47 seconds for the second time this year. However, he was an agonising two 10ths of a second outside the European qualifying time in a rough and tumble race.
Chris said: “I found myself in lane two for the last lap which adds about 10 metres to the overall distance which was not ideal – but I was delighted to get the win.”
“I had not run indoors for four years because I don’t particularly like indoor running so to run a mid-47 twice this year gives me great confidence for the outdoor season ahead,” he explained. Chris will be on the Irish team for the IAAF World Athletics Relays in May and if the team finish in the top eight they will qualify for the Olympic Games in July which is a big target for this likeable Grange lad.
Covid-19 has certainly not affected our elite Irish athletes with national records and personal best times being set all over Europe and, indeed, we currently lead the world ranking lists, most notably in the women’s 800 metres.
With a record number of 24 athletes selected for the European Indoor Championships and some realistic chances of medals, things are good in our sport despite all the doom and gloom prevalent in other sports in these difficult days. Why this is so will fill another column on another day. Finally, well done to Athletics Ireland on persisting with staging last weekend’s brilliant competition and, of course, our officials who once again stepped up to the mark to ensure Covid-19 protocols were adhered to as well as carrying out the business of organising a top-class meet.