by Perri Williams
Another day, another medal. That seems to be the mantra for Ireland at the European u18 Championships in Slovakia. Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley) was the latest addition to the Irish medal haul today. Clarke secured a sliver along with a new National u18 5000m racewalking record. His time of 21.05 was the second fastest in Europe this year. Together with Matthew Newell (Tuam AC), he lined out for the 5000m walk. Clarke came to these championships with his eye on a medal – the colour was not as important as a place on the podium. Staying well up from the start, Clarke was looking for a fast race. “There were a lot of spurts. You might have seen me take the lead a few times. That’ s because I wanted a fast race” he admitted. Despite the pressure put upon him by the two Italians, Clarke focused on his own race and did not let anyone else’s agenda impinge upon his own. Overall Clarke was very happy with his race. “The first 3km I felt pretty good, the last 2km was probably some of the worst pain I have felt in my life, it was all power. I just kept thinking of the podium” he stated. Matthew Newell also had a great race, coming into the event he was ranked seventh in Europe and finished seventh.
Elsewhere Eoin O’Callaghan (Bandon AC) cumulated the last day (and five events) of his decathlon, finishing in nineth place with a new national u18 record. “This is what I have been aiming for, for the whole year, the training was as hard as you can imagine. I am very happy” he said. O’Callaghan achieved six new personal bests over the two days. His goal was to get a national record and score over 7000 points which is exactly what he did. “Just to finish a decathlon, it’s so hard to do” said an exhausted O’Callaghan. “With the heat we are experiencing I could not have honestly asked for a better score” he added. The Bandon AC athlete, actually injured his knee during the pole vault but soldiered on to complete the javelin and 1500m. He achieved personal bests in the 100m, long jump, shot putt, 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault and javelin.
Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan) finished 5th in the ladies 800m with Pia Langton in 8th. It was a tough challenge for both girls to compete in three 800m races over the three days along with the heat to accompany them. “It’s a great title to have” said Fitzgerald “fifth in Europe, when you say it like that it sounds really good. Langton fought hard all the way but the personal best she needed to run in the semi-final took its toll on her “the legs just weren’t there today after three races” she said. Bobby Moore (Bray) finished seventh in his final and expressed a bit of disappointment with his result. “I will probably be happy with the result tomorrow” he said. Moore felt he should have trusted his instinct a bit more and gone a little sooner. But the experience that these athletes have gained from their first major championship will undoubtedly shape their future races.
Things did not go quiet so well for Conor Penney. The fifteen-year-old from Craughwell failed 1.93 three times and was forced to exit the competition. A competition that was won in a height that Penney had already achieved this year 2.09. His humility and composure in the aftermath of the disappointment has to be applauded and represents a maturity beyond his years. An athlete of his calibre will undoubtedly bounce back from this disappointment and go on to achieve great things. As with all things athletics. You have a third of your time in the elation zone, a third in the average zone and another third in the disappointment zone. That is what makes success taste so much sweeter when it does come your way.
For whatever disappointment our middle distance athletes have had thus far, Noah Harris (Parnell) and Cillian Gleeson (Celbridge) more than made up for it in the 3000m. Harris was ranked 4th coming into the competition and finished 4th in a time of 8.18. The race was taken out by Sebastian Lorstad (Sweden) who was reeled in just after 2,300m. Harris was in the chasing group, holding his position stead at third. With 400 to go he lay in fifth but managed to overhaul Filip Toul (France) to cross the line in fourth. Gleeson was ranked eleventh and finished eleventh and can be well pleased with his 8.28. He lay in nineth place for much of the race, falling to eleventh over the final 400m. Like all the athletes before them, both Harris and Gleeson could not but mention the heat. It was unequivocally the one single factor that appears to have affected all the athletes. Those of us, left to contend with our July winter watch with envy.
All in all it has been a tremendous championship for Team Ireland, five medals in total and so many national records and personal bests. We leave with lasting memories of not only the medals, but the part played by the Irish supporters in Slovakia. It has been one in a million.
