from AAI website – Martin Fagan Qualifies For Beijing Marathon
– National Throws squad session Martin Fagan Qualifies For Beijing Marathon
Superb Dubai marathon debut – PB for David Campbell in Tasmania
Martin Fagan yesterday battled through the pain barrier in the Dubai Marathon to achieve his target of an Olympic qualifying standard for Beijing. Fagan, finished in 2 hours 14 minutes 06 seconds, comfortably inside the Olympic A qualifying standard of 2.15.
The weather in Dubai was perfect for marathoners with temperatures down to 11C, rising to just 14C at the finish, with little wind. World marathon record holder holder Haile Gebrselassie ran the second fastest marathon in history, 2.o4.53 to win the men’s race, but a suicidal early pace by his Ethiopian pacemakers ruined any chance he had of breaking his own world record of 2.04.06, set in Berlin only three months ago.
This was an extraordinary battling performance by 24 year old Martin Fagan who, up to half-way, was on course for an even faster finishing time. “I was with the chasing group and I was feeling good at half –way,”Fagan said. “I had written my projected time splits on my hand and I had expected that there would be time clocks at certain points on the course and so I was not wearing a watch. However, there were no clocks on the course and I found that a bit difficult.”
Fagan then faced a much bigger problem between 25 and 35 kilometres as a troublesome hip injury flared up. “I was in agony for over ten kilometres and I had to stop and stretch a number of times so that I could get just a little bit of relief from the pain,” he said.
“I had been having a few problems in recent times with my back and hip, but I never experienced anything like the pain I had at that critical point of the race. However, I fought on and it was a huge relief to finish inside the Olympic Qualifying standard. That was my target and I was determined to make it.”
Fagan finished in much distress and was immediately taken away for medical examination. “The doctor said that I may have a stress fracture of my hip, but I am hoping that he is wrong, “Fagan said. “It was worth all the pain and discomfort to have made the Olympic qualifying standard. The conditions were good and it was a tough but very worthwhile experience.”
The Mullingar man will arrive back in Dublin early on Sunday morning and already Athletics Ireland High Performance Manager, Gareth Devlin has made arrangements for him to receive the best of medical care.
Fagan’s can now be confident of making the Irish track and field team for Beijing- the first time since 1992 that Ireland will have a representative in the Olympic Marathon. The Barcelona Olympics of 1992 saw three Irish runners in the marathon-John Treacy, Andy Ronan and Tommy Hughes.
The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was Fagan’s second choice in his race for an Olympic qualifying standard. Fagan had hoped to run in the Houston marathon earlier this month, before he encountered visa difficulties which denied him re-entry to America. Ireland’s latest Olympic qualifier is now hoping that his US visa problem will soon be sorted out and that he will be able to complete some of his Olympic training preparations at his U.S training base where his coach resides.
“Athletics Ireland have been very helpful to me over the past several weeks and they organised accommodation for me in DCU during my training build-up for Dubai.,” Fagan said.
In Tasmania David Campbell opened his 2008 campaign in the best possible form with a second place finish in the 1.500m. His time of 3:40.25 was well inside his previous best of 3:41.81.
Briggs Athletics Classic Results
Men 1500 Metres Run
1, Mitch Kealey, QAS, 3:39.70. 2, David Campbell, Ireland, 3:40.25. 3, Lachlan
Chisholm, NSW, 3:40.44. 4, Nick Bromley, Nswis, 3:41.20. 5, Michael Shelley,
Queensland, 3:43.83.
Men 5000 Metres Run
1, Collis Birmingham, VIS, 13:38.11.
–, David Campbell, Ireland, DNF
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National Throws squad session
The National Throws squad will have a squad session in Tullamore on the 2nd of Feb 2008 for all events except Shot
For more details contact the National event Co-ordinator AIlish O’ Brien on 087/9187194 or 051/562593 or e-mail [email protected] to confirm your attendance. Below is a list of athletes included on the squad, if you think you should be added to this list please contact Ailish.
National Throws Squad 2007/08
Men
1. Paul Crowe Menapians Shot & Discus
2. Eoin Leen Tralee Shot & Discus
3. JP Leahy Limerick Shot
4. Sean Breathnach Galway Shot, Discus and Javelin
5. Jeremy Harper North Down Shot & Discus
6. Kevin Burke Crusaders Shot
7. Luke Mangan Clonliffe Shot & Discus
8. Ger Nagle Star of the Sea Shot & Discus
9. Daniel Clifford Farranfore Maine Shot & Discus
10. Rubais Laminos Westport Shot
11. Andrew Doyle Mid Ulster Shot & Discus
12. Marco Pons DMP Shot
13. Dale Kennedy Ferrybank Shot & Discus
14. Colin Quirke Shot & Discus
15. Pavel Hazler Leevale Shot, Discus & Hammer
16. Alex Jones Templemore Shot
17. Patsy O Connor Tralee Shot
18. John Menton Donore Discus
19. Darragh Hanlon Tullamore Discus
20. Chris Reynolds Brow Rangers Discus
21. Ben Gerathy Crusaders Discus
22. B Woods Belvedere Discus
23. James Nagle Discus & Shot
24. Michael Connenery Discus
25. Padraig White UCD Hammer
26. Paddy Mc Grath Raheny Hammer
27. Mark Hanley Fr Murphys Hammer
28. David Little Ulster?? Hammer
29. Roman Leevale Hammer
30. Danny Rocket West Waterford Hammer
31. George Eyres Crusaders Hammer
32. James Mc Cabe Dunboyne Hammer
33. Killian Barry Crusaders Hammer
34. Gerard Kelly Westport Hammer
35. Cathal Barry Crusaders Hammer
36. Conal Campion St Andrews Hammer
37. A Rice Hammer
38. Aaron Crawford Strabane Javelin
39. Daniel Mullen Strabane Javelin
40. Paul Marry Dunleer?Clonliffe Javelin
41. Damien Crawford Strabane Javelin
42. Joe Diskin Sli Culainn Javelin
43. Midukas Korsonkovas Galway Javelin
44. Michael Mc Conley Javelin
45. Brian Mc Dermott DSD Javelin
46. Peter Mc Donald Javelin
47. Denis Delaney Clonliffe Javelin
48. Dean Oakes Overseas Javelin
49. Sean Mc Bride Strabane Javelin
50. Philip Burns Belgooly Javelin
51. Juri Kubis Kilkenny Javelin
52. David Atkinson Cookstown Javelin
53. Eva Massey North Down Shot & Discus
54. Laura Cogan Newbridge Shot
55. Claire Fitzgerald Tralee Shot, Di & Jav
56. Geraldine Stewart Tir Conailil Shot
57. Jenny Browne Shot
58. Aoife Hickey KCH Shot Hammer
59. Claire Mc Aleese Ballymena & Antrim Shot
60. Laura Kerr Shot
61. Ailish Sheehan Doneen Shot
62. Tracey Bradfield Bandon Shot & Discus
63. Deidre Murphy Leevale Shot & Discus
64. Catriona Ryan Templemore Shot
65. Eileen O Keefe Kilkenny Discus & Ham
66. Sarah Bradfield Leevale Discus
67. Rachel Akers Marian Discus & Ham
68. Karen Healy Fr Murphys Discus & Ham
69. Sonia Kennedy Ferrybank Shot & Discus
70. Phillipa Conway Crusaders Discus
71. Rachel Mc Guire DSD Discus
72. Karen O Connor Tralee Discus
73. Caoim Vallely Gilroy Discus
74. Zoe Scanlon West WAterford Discus
75. Mary Sutherland DMP Hammer
76. Linda Cronin Old Abbey Ac Hammer
77. Joanna Doyle Hammer
78. Rhiannan Mc Nally Abbey Hammer
79. Chanda Kapanda Hammer
80. Maggie Donnelly City of Derry Hammer
81. Gaby Mc Nally Abbey Hammer
82. Charlotte O Farrell DMP Hammer
83. Karen Flynn Farranfore Hammer
84. Maria Flynn Farranfore Hammer
85. Katie O Shea Farranfore Hammer & Sh
86. Anita White Dublin Striders Javelin
87. Kellie Ryder Greystones Javelin
88. Georgina Browne City of ~Derry Javelin
89. Olivia Mc Donald St Peters Ac Javelin
90. Ruth Farrelly Clonliffe Javelin
91. Grace O Sullivan Cushinstown Javelin
92. Shareen Mc Crudden Finn Valley Javelin
93. Mary Moynihan Farranfore Javelin
94. Denise Byrne Clonliffe
95. Joe Nagle Discus
