Penn Relays in America None
The Irish relay team finished in third place in the 2014 edition of the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, USA on Saturday, 26th of April. John Travers (Donore Harriers AC), Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC) and John Coghlan (MSB AC) combined to record a time of 9.42.83 for the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) event. The DMR is made up of four legs: 1,200m, 400m, 800m and 1 mile.
The Irish quartet were up against very strong teams from America and Australia with the USA winning the event in a time of 9.28.27 and Australia second in a time of 9.30.74
The splits for the Irish athletes were Travers (1,200m: 3.01.99), Gregan (400m: 46.31), Robinson (800m: 1:48.59) and Coghlan (1600m: 4.05.95)
On the same day European Indoor 3,000m bronze medallist Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) made a welcome return to the track when he competed in the 1 mile race at the Drake Relays. The event was O’Lionaird’s comeback race after nearly a year out due to injury. O’Lionaird finished in eight position in a time of 4.03.64, the race was won by Aman Wote in a time of 3.53.29. Commentating on his twitter (@GoCiaran) afterwards O’Lionaird said:
“Disappointed, but crutches to a tactical 4:03 ain’t terrible. The hardest steps have been taken. Body healthy, mind motivated. I’m back.”
Richard Morrissey (Crusaders AC) had a busy afternoon at the Spring Invitational Meeting in Clermont, Florida. Morrissey recorded personal bests of 10.81 in the 100m and 21.47 in the 200m. He also competed in his specialist 400m distance and recorded his fourth fastest time ever with a time of 46.83 to finish in seventh place.
Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) was also competing in Florida where she ran a time of 11.50 in the heats of the 100m. Foster ran even quicker in the final when she recorded a time of 11.38, however the wind speed was +2.3, over the allowable limit of +2.0
