Olympic Hopefuls Compete Across Europe

 

The BMC meet in Watford today once again attracted a big Irish entry, although the results proved disappointing for Cork athletes.  In the 1,500m Ken Nason finished 10th with 3:44.55, well outside his season’s best.  Patrick Davoren, brother of Freda, was fourth in 3:43.13, with Cormac Smith 12th in 3:45.54.  Martin McCarthy of Leevale also found the going tough, failing to finish the 10,000m.  However, both Seamus Power and Peter Matthews both clocked B Olympic standards and will now await the Olympic Council of Ireland’s decision on whether they will send B standard athletes or not.  They clocked 28:23.11 and 28:27.32 respectively in 7th and 8th places.  Noel Cullen was 15th in 29:20.19 and Dermot Donnelly 16th in 29:36.91.  Rosemary Ryan was again just outside the qualifying time for the 10,000m placing third in 32:31.9, with Ann Keenan Buckley 7th in 33:05.5.  Sonia O’Sullivan won the 1,500m in 4:08.08, with Una English third in 4:15.66, Geraldine Nolan fourth in 4:16.82, Maria McCambridge 6th in 4:17.48, Maria Lynch ninth in 4:18.79, and Elaine Fitzgerald eleventh in 4:20.25.  this was Sonia’s second 1,500m of the meet, having placed 8th in the mens B race in 4:06.39. Aoifa Byrne won the 800m in 2:06.67 with Deirdre Fleming fourth in 2:09.34.  In Budapest Darren Dinneen of Leevale was officially placed seventh in the 800m with a time of 1:48.48, details that were disputed by the Irish team management.  A bunch of runners finished in a line making placings almost impossible.  Freda Davoren of UCC was third in a time of 2:05.42.  Selection of the teams for Sydney will probably be finalised at the National senior championships in mid-August.