The second day of the 31st European Indoor Championships in Paris saw four Irish Athletes in action. Earlier in the day, Mary Cullen was withdrawn from the heats of the women’s 3000m on medical grounds. Team Manager Patsy McGonagle said the Irish athlete had come down with a stomach complaint overnight and the Team doctor felt it would be ill-advised under the circumstances for the 28 year in-form Irish athlete to compete in the 1st round of the 3000m.
Cullen had shown good form this season over 3000m. Her season’s best time of 8:53:45 would have stood her in good stead this morning and the Sligo woman would have had ambitions to qualify for tomorrow’s final and compete with best of Europe tomorrow in the final of the 3000m. Cullen has also shown good speed over the shorter distances too this season and she took the Irish 1500m title two weeks ago. It was a disappointment to the Irish Team to have Cullen out of action at these European Indoors but the rest of the team were focused on giving 100% in their specific events.
Finn Valley AC’s Tori Pena was first up to the mark this morning in the qualification for the Pole Vault final tomorrow. Pena opened her campaign by clearing 3 metres 90, then 4 metres 15 before going on to clear 4 metres 35 on her first attempt, another new National Record for the Californian-born Irish woman this season, which finished her in 12th position, after failing to clear 4:45 on three attempts. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the 23 year old UCLA graduate to claim one of the nine top qualification spots for tomorrow’s final. Leading qualifier was Poland’s Anna Rogowska with 4 metres 55.
“It was a good feeling to get a pb indoors and break my Irish record. It gave me a great feeling to have that first time. In the pole vault that is what you are always looking for. That has now made it three times over 4.30 and while I’m pleased I want to go higher and when I go back to California that is what I’ll be working towards. It’s a case of pleased enough but looking for more.”
Waterford’s 23 year old Kelly Proper was competing in the Long Jump qualification rounds this morning. Proper got off to good start by jumping 6 metres 27 in the first round, and then 6m 29 in the second. In the third round, Proper improved yet again to a leap of 6m 45, a new season’s best in 2011 for the young Waterford woman. Unlike in Turin though in 2009, her best leap today was not enough to take one of the eight qualifying places on offer and had to settle for 13th position this time around. The longest jump of the morning was by Yuliya Pidluzhnaya of Russia who jumped a personal best of 6m 74.
“I went back to basics in my training the last few weeks and I’m still confident that I can come back my best in the future” said Proper who ruled out any change of event, like switching to the Pentathlon. “At this stage I have no plans to change and myself and my coach are going to follow those plans. People who talk about changing events are not training and coaching me five and six nights a week.
“These people who talk about change do not know what progress I’m making in certain areas and when it all comes together again it will be very much worthwhile. I know that and that is what is driving me on.”
Letterkenny’s Darren McBrearty had qualified for this afternoon’s 800m 1st semi-final by running an excellent front-led heat yesterday to claim the second of two fastest loser places up for grabs. Today, the 19 year old coached by Teresa McDaid, adopted similar tactics to yesterday and took the four-lap race on and stayed close to the early leaders Lopez of Spain and Osagie of Britain. Displaying courage and tenacity beyond his years, McBrearty kept fighting all the way round the final lap only to lose out narrowly for one of the three qualifying places for tomorrow’s final. McBrearty finished in 5th position in 1:49:78 seconds, the fifth fastest time of the two semis, an excellent achievement for the rookie athlete from Donegal. McBrearty’s semi was won by Andrew Osagie in 1:49:02. McBrearty can be proud of his performances this weekend, and the future looks bright for the tall, long-striding Letterkenny man.
“I might have moved a bit too soon but these situations come with confidence and while I’m disappointed at not making the final I feel I’ve learned a whole lot from this experience and it will stand to me later. There was a place there in the final and 100 m out I thought I was going to get it. I was cut off in that last lap but these are things that you must learn to live with and move on and build again.”
The last Irish Athlete in action today was Cork’s Ailish McSweeney in the 60m semi-finals. McSweeney had run well earlier today in this morning’s 1st round heats, and in the third heat finished in 4th position in 7:38 seconds to take one of the fastest loser positions for the semi-finals. Her 1st round heat was won by Ukraine’s Stuy in a fast 7:27 seconds. Competing in the 1st of the two semi-finals, the 27 year old Leevale AC Athlete and Irish 100m record holder, got a good start but was up against a real quality field and at the finish placed in 7th position of eight in a time of 7.34 seconds. McSweeney will be disappointed not to have run faster today but will be looking to build towards the outdoor season this year. McSwenney’s semi was won by Mariya Ryemyen of Ukraine in 7:16 seconds.
“I’m very disappointed with that. This time my start was good but my pick up just did not happen. This is a long way to come just to finish with a semi-final. I was planning on a lot better than that” said the 27 year old.
All those who advanced hit between 7.16 and 7.20. “That is the standard by which you must set your targets and now I will have to go back and work on a few things and make sure I do better the next time.”
All in all, the Irish team gave it 100% again today, and with a new national record and season’s best, coupled with strong individual runs, the athletes can take something away from today’s competition and use it for future improvement.