and Ryan Opens 2012 Campaign At the Woodie’s DIY AAI Games, European Cross Country Champion, Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) impressed in the mixed 3000m, setting a personal best of 8.55.01 improving on the 9:02.11 she set at the championships last year.Deirdre Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin) opened her 2012 campaign by clearing 1.80m on her first attempt at the Diamond League Meeting in Shanghai on Saturday 19th of May.
The race was won by the Inter Club Cross Country Champion Eddie McGinley (Annadale Striders) in 8.24.74.
In the Men’s 200m Marcus Lawlor (St.Laurence O’Toole) won the 200m in a New Irish Youth’s record of 21.42 improving on the 21.56 he set earlier in the season. It was also the Athletics Ireland B standard for the World Junior Championships.* In the Men’s 800m, the race was won by Junior Dean Cronin (Blarney/Inniscara) in 1.50.64 inside the B standard for the World Junior Championships.
The women’s 100m hurdles was won by U23 athlete Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers) in a personal best of 13.88. The Irish Indoor Junior Record holder, Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) was second in 13.97, well inside the B standard for the World Junior Championships of 14.20. This is the third time Lavin has achieved the B standard.
At the Copenhagen Marathon Barbara Sanchez (Raheny AC) won in 2:41:18 which was outside the Olympic qualification standard of 2.37. Sanchez was dominant from the earlier stages and kept a firm grasp of the front position all the way across the final finish line. Lene Hjelmsø of Denmark was second in 2:45:16 with Marthe Kathrine Myhre from Norway was third in 2:46:52.
Jason Smyth (City of Derry) was in action in NTC Classic Field and Meet, Clermont, Florida yesterday running 10.24 (+1.5w) in the 100m inside the European Track and Field ‘A’ standard of 10.32. This was just two hundredths off his personal best that he set at the same meet last year.
At the Loughborough International Thomas Barr won the 400m hurdles in 51.85. His sister Jessie Barr (Ferrybank) was second in the women’s 400m hurdles in 57.38, inside the B standard for the European Track and Field Championships. Barr has already achieved the A standard when running 56.62 at the final of the U23 European Track and Field championships last year. At the same meet Claire Bergin (DSD AC) set a personal best of 53.66 to finish second in the 400m with Marian Heffernan sixth in 54.95.
Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) was due to compete in Springer Meeting in Germany but did not compete due to a slight niggle. David Gillick (DSD AC) will now have his first outing on the 2nd of June in Geneva.
*Selection Criteria for World Junior Championships: Any eligible athlete who achieves one (1) “A” or two (2) “B” Performance Standard(s) within the Qualifying Period for the particular event will be considered for selection.
Ryan Open’s 2012 Campaign
Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Deirdre Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin) opened her 2012 campaign by clearing 1.80m on her first attempt at the Diamond League Meeting in Shanghai on Saturday 19th of May. Ryan then had three unsuccessful attempts at 1.84m. It rained in Shanghai for the event, which evidently affected the heights achieved by all of the High Jumpers. The competition was won by World indoor champion Chaunte Lowe (USA), clearing a height of 1.92m.
Stephanie Reilly (Sli Cualann AC), another of Ireland’s Olympic hopefuls competed in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Oxy High Performance Meet in Occidental College, California. O’Reilly recorded a time of 9:54.55 which was good enough for a fifth place finish.
