Athletics Ireland is delighted to announce full marathon teams to be nominated for selection to the Olympic Council of Ireland for the Olympic Games in August. Robert Heffernan will lead a strong team of 50km race walkers. Half marathon teams for the European Athletics Championships have also been picked.
The marathon and race walking nominations for selection to the Olympic Council of Ireland in alphabetical order are as follows:
50KM MEN’S RACE WALKS (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
NAME CLUB
Brendan Boyce Letterkenny AC
Robert Heffernan Togher AC
Alex Wright Leevale AC
MEN’S MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
NAME CLUB
Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrocks AC
Paul Pollock Annadale Striders AC
Kevin Seaward St Malachy’s AC
1st Reserve: Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers AC)
2nd Reserve: Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF)
WOMEN’S MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
NAME CLUB
Breege Connolly North Belfast AC
Lizzie Lee Leevale AC
Fionnuala McCormack Kilcoole AC
1st Reserve: Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast AC)
2nd Reserve: Barbara Sanchez (Clonliffe Harriers AC)
The Selections for the European Championships Half Marathon to take place in Amsterdam from the 6-10 July.
MEN’S HALF MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
NAME CLUB
Sergiu Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC
Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrocks AC
Mark Hanrahan Leevale AC
Gary Murray Clonliffe Harriers AC
Paul Pollock Annadale Striders AC
Kevin Seaward St Malachy’s AC
WOMEN’S HALF MARATHON (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
NAME CLUB
Breege Connolly North Belfast AC
Gladys Ganiel North Belfast AC
Maria McCambridge Dundrum South Dublin AC
Claire McCarthy Leevale AC
The five-person selection panel picked the athletes they believed to be capable of producing the best performance possible at the Olympic Games in August.
"I’m happy with the teams that we have selected," said High Performance Director Kevin Ankrom. "I believe the athletes chosen will be prepared to produce a performance to match their capabilities.
"It’s never easy to tell some of the athletes that they aren’t selected and I understand their disappointment.
"I believe we have picked the best team and I also look forward to good performances by teams at the European Championships in the half marathon. Athletes have raised the bar in their performances and that is very encouraging to see. We have also picked reserves and subject to illness or injury they can be selected for nomination by July 11th."
Athletes not selected have a right to appeal within 24 hours with appeals heard by the end of the working week May 27th.
Source: Athletics Ireland
Photo Credit Sasa Pahic Szabo/Inpho
