Written by Perri Williams
The races are coming fast and furious now as athletes battle time to qualify for the Olympic Games or boost their ranking points for alternative qualification. While Mark English was setting a new national record in Finland and sealing his Olympic Qualification (see our report on that meet), other Irish athletes were competing in the Boysen Memorial meet in Norway.
Jodie McCann whose personal best was lost in the sea of relay euphoria at the European Championships last week, set another personal best last night in Norway. Competing in the 5000m she finished second in a time of 15.20, The winner was Viktoria Wagner-Gyürkés of Hungary in 15.19. McCann’s time takes a whopping nine seconds of her previous personal best from Rome, a clear indication of her progressively good form. The Olympic Standard is 14.52 for 5000m.
At the same meeting, Sam Healy (Leevale AC) competed in the Long Jump. With just two legal jumps Healy managed a best jump of 7.21m. His personal best of 7.72m was set in Chula Vista, California in May of last year. He has, however, jumped close to this at the EAP meeting in Annecy last month, where he managed a very creditable 7.68m.
Featured Image: by Perri Williams