Leevale’s Ciarán Ó Lionáird got his outdoor season off to a belated start at last night’s Cork City Sports. After a hugely successful indoor season, he has been beset by injury and has gotten his outdoor season up and running just days before the London Olympics. Competing in the mile event, he looked uncomfortable early on before settling in well over the last 800m. He was just caught for sharpness on the last lap as he came home 5th in 3:58, just under a second off race winner Ryan Gregson of Australia.
In the same race Mark Hanrahan finished 9th and was unfortunate not to break the 4-minute barrier, the windy weather not helping him on the way to a 4:02. With better conditions, he will undoubtedly achieve the 4-minute mile at some stage in future.
Earlier in the evening, the juvenile 300m gala, which was organised by Leevale, drew large fields of young athletes and really helped lift the atmosphere in the arena. Overall it was a hugely successful City Sports, the return to an evening fixture being a good call by the event organisers.
