by Perri Williams
Another exciting Diamond League, this time in Paris, serves as the highlight of the past weeks performances. Sarah Healy from 5th position produced yet another storming final lap and impressive final 100m to finish second in the 1,500m, all the time closing in on Nelly Chepchirchir (Kenya). Chepchirchir initially built up a substantial lead only to be chased down by the field. Over the final 100m Healy came through to finish just one tenth of a second behind her.
Mark English may have finished 6th but there was another sub 1:44 for the Finn Valley AC athlete as he clocked his second fastest time ever to record 1:43.98. Clearly the changes to his training over the past year have been paying dividends.
At the World Continental Bronze Tour meeting in Dessau Germany, there were two athletes taking part. James Gormely produced a season’s best over 1,500m as he clocked 3:37.21 to finish 7th. Callum Baird (Ballymena) finished 9th in the 400m with a time of 47.00.
There was some good news at another World Continental Tour bronze meeting, this time in Finland. Roisin Flanagan secured a personal best of 8:55.87 in the 3,000m. This is a great result ahead of next weeks team championships for the Finn Valley AC athlete. At the same meeting Sarah Lavin clocked her seasons best time over the 100m hurdles, crossing the line in 12.90. Lavin was delighted to return to the getting some sub 13 second performances.
On Saturday there was a number of athletes in action across Europe. At the World Continental Bronze Tour meeting in Geneva Switzerland, a number of Irish sprinters took to the track. Isreal Olatundu recorded a season’s best of 10.23 while Bori Akinola produced a new personal best of 10.25. Sean Aigboboh who has already ran within the u23 European B standard, managed 11.63 on this occasion with Michael Farrelly ahead of him in 10.44. Marcus Lawler finished 10th in the 200m in a season’s best of 20.63. The Irish girls were in action too with highlights including Ciara Neville producing a season’s best of 11.53 in the 100m and Sarah Leahy also recording a seasons best of 11.57. The big news from Switzerland was of course the new Irish men’s 4x100m national record. The team of Michael Farrelly, Bori Akinola, Marcus Lawler, Israel Olatunde recorded 38.92 to finish second. This time surpasses the 25-year-old record set by John McAdorey, Gary Ryan, Tom Comyns, Paul Brizzel in Sydney back in 2000. While on the subject of relays, the Irish u23 selection took part in a relay competition held in conjunction with the Tailteann Games. The team of Kate O’Connell, Victoria Amiadamen, Niamh Murray and Jenna Breen clocked a time of 3:36.93 to dip inside the European u23 standard.
Quiet a number of Irish athletes took part in the Stratford Speed Track Open in the UK. In series 1 of the 100m Bori Akinola, a day after running a new PB in Geneva recorded a further new personal best of 10.10. However, the wind speed of 2.9 was over the legal limit. Precious Apke-Moses produced a new personal best of 11.71 in the 100m which is once again inside the B standard for European u20 Championships.
Jodie McCann was in action again this week and finished 4th in Poland with a time of 4.13.26.
At home the weekend was the preserve of the juvenile athletes. The Tailteann Games were held on Saturday in Carlow with notable victories for Freya Renton in the 3000m. Renton was beaten by Emma Hickey (United Striders) at the All-Ireland Schools. The Westport AC athlete was not going to let that happen again. Renton used all the energy she could muster to hold off the challenge from Hickey and claim gold in the 3000m. Her sister Holly was 3rd. Both Freya Renton and Emma Hickey will not travel to Derby next month as part of the Irish team for the SIAB International. There was a 1-2 for Killarney’s Vickers brothers as Issac won the 800m and Ryan finished second.
Check back later for more results updates