from A.A.I There was a touch of March Madness in the incredible performances that Ireland’s elite Athletes produced in the 31 days of the month. It began with the European Indoor Championships in Turin, which saw Irish athletes combine to deliver two Bronze medals, 5 finalists, 4 personal bests, 2 seasonal bests and an Irish Record. This was followed with two more Irish Records set later in the month.
The Irish records are worth celebrating, with a combination of emerging talents and heroic comeback stories. Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) was the first out of the blocks in setting a new Irish Long Jump Record on the 6th of March of 6.59m when qualifying for the final of the in Turin. The multi-talented Proper smashed her own Irish record of 6.44m in the process and is a star of the future.
Mullingar Harriers athlete Martin Fagan emphasised his world class status and when he broke John Treacy’s long standing half marathon record in 1:00:57 in Hague on March 14.
Jamie Costin put in a stellar performance when setting a new Irish Record of 3.50.52, in the 50k Walk at the European Athletics Walking meeting in Dudince, southern Slovakia on the 28th of March. This performance highlighted the Waterford man’s athletic ability and mental resilience given that back in 2004 there were serious concerns about whether he would walk again, yet alone compete, after he was involved in a car crash at the Athens Olympics that left him with two broken vertebrae as well as fractures in his back.
The highlight of March was however the Indoor Bronze Medal performances in Turin by Leevale’s Derval O’Rourke and Mary Cullen of North Sligo AC. The selectors for the Athlete of the Month could not separate these brilliant performers and have made a decision to make the award to both Athletes.
In Turin, Derval O’Rourke had looked impressive in qualifying and was second fastest going into the final. In what was a very close race, she came third posting a time of 7.97 seconds it was won by Eline Berings of Belgium in a time of 7.92. This was O’Rourke’s fastest time since 2006 when she was World Indoor Champion and demonstrated her ability to bounce back and proof yet again that she is a top class European Athlete.
Mary Cullen has been awarded for a second month following her gutsy performance to won bronze in the Final of the European Indoor 3000m. The pace of the early stages of the race was slow and after being clipped from behind and nearly falling ,Cullen regained her composure and took the lead with four laps to go, stretching the field. She led until the final lap when she was overtaken by Turkey’s Almitu Bekele on the back straight and then Portugal’s Sara Moriera on the home straight, but she bravely held on to win the Bronze medal in 8.48.47.