Morton Stadium, Santry By Frank Grealy
Thomas Chamney of Crusaders Athletic Club was in sparkling form yesterday as he powered to victory in the men’s 800 meters final at the Woodie’s DIY Senior Track & Field Championships of Ireland at the Morton Stadium in Santry- a performance that looks certain to gain him selection on the Irish team for the World Track & Field Championships in Berlin two weeks from now.k Greally This 800 meters had been primed as one of the expected highlight events of the championships- a showdown between the defending champion, Chamney, and his arch rival, David Campbell of St Coca’s A.C. Both athletes had already achieved the 800m B qualifying standard for Berlin with the outcome of yesterday’s race expected to give the final guide line to Athletics Ireland selectors of who should travel to Berlin.
With none of the other finalists willing to taken the early pace, it was left to David Campbell to try and control things at the front from an early stage. However, it was defending champion Thomas Chamney who proved to have the extra gear in the home straight and the tall Crusaders A.C athlete roared home in 1.49.87 ahead of Campbell, 1.50.20 and Alan O’Brien, ( Crusaders A.C), 1.51.40 who took the bronze medal.
This was a hugely satisfying performance for Thomas Chamney who has been showing great consistency in his racing performances over the past several weeks. “I had expected David Campbell to take the race out and my plan was that if he made it fast I would wait until the finishing straight to try and go by him, “ Chamney said. “If he took it out slow, my plan was to pick it up with 200 meters to go and again with 100 meters to go. These were the two scenarios that I played out in my head. Then, when the pace was not too fast I put the boot down with about 120 meters to go and luckily I held on for the win.”
Immediately after winning the 800 meters event, Chamney declared his interest in competing in both the 800m and 1,500m in the World Championships. “The 1500m is on first in Berlin and the way I have been training this year has a lot to do with strength work which should suit the 1500m., “ Chamney said. “I could take my chances there of making it through the heats and the 800m is not until later in the week. It will obviously be up to the selectors, but if they gave me the option of running both events I would do both. I think I can make the semi-final of the 1500m as there are not too many in this event that can run 1.45 for 800 meters every day of the week- something that I have already done three times this season. I am something of a novice still at 1500m and I think that this season my 1.45.4 best for 800 meters is better than my 3.37.6 for 1500 meters. I have built a big base of strength over the Winter and I feel that I could make the semi-final at the World Championships in both events.”
David Campbell was in low key mood after the 800 meters final and he expressed disappointment that there was no other athlete in the field willing to make an early bid for glory. “It seems as if everyone else settles in and races for the third position once Thomas Chamney and myself are in the field, “ he said.
However, Campbell was back in action again later in the afternoon winning the men’s 1500m final in 3.51.96 from Mark Kenneally, (Clonliffe Harriers), 3.54.05 and Mark Hanrahan, (Leevale A.C), 3.54.10. This was a more satisfying performance by Campbell and afterward he still held on to a glimmer of hope that the Athletics Ireland selectors might give him a chance to compete in Berlin.
“Both Thomas Chamney and myself have the B qualifying standard for Berlin and Thomas has been talking all year about running 1500m. Maybe he will now decide to concentrate on this event in Berlin and open up a chance for me to race there at 800 meters, “ Campbell said. “I think that there is a good case to made for this to happen. I think that if it was the other way around it would be put to me to come up with a similar arrangement that two people should be going instead of one. Everything was impossible last year and then made possible. I am hoping that the same happens this year.”
There were many other impressive performances at Santry over the weekend including a 200 meters victory by David Gillick of Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club who powered his way down the home straight into a strong win to take the national title in 21.43 seconds. “I don’t run the distance often, but this was very enjoyable, “ Gillick said.
Eileen O’Keefe of Kilkenny City Harriers was also in winning form as she threw the hammer 69.91 meters- a seasonal best. “I’m just thrilled to be throwing again, “ O’Keefe said. The Kilkenny athlete has been through some tough times with injury and surgery but she is now bouncing back to something like her best.
Olive Loughnane of Loughrea A.C dominated the women’s 5000m race walk on Saturday- winning in a lifetime best of 21:03.39. Loughnane, who was Ireland’s best athletics performer (7th) in the Beijing Olympics last year, is confident that she can again deliver a quality performance in Berlin. “Hopefully, I will do it on the day in Berlin and this victory here in Santry in a personal best is a big confidence boost.,” she said.
There was some drama yesterday in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase final when race leader Mark Kirwan of Raheny Shamrock A.C took a bad tumble at the water jump with less than 200 meters remaining. Kirwan had made a brave bid for victory, but the late tumble was too much for him and it was defending champion, Rory Chesser of Ennis Track Club who gained the advantage and stormed home to victory in 9:03.01 ahead of Emmet Dunleavy of Sligo A.C. Kirwan gamely picked himself up and finished a gallant third in 9:07.78.
Only Ailish McSweeney of Leevale A.C was able to deny the multi talented Kelly Proper of Ferrybank A.C a treble in the championships. Proper won the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.68 meters- a championship best performance and followed that with victory in the women’s 200 meters in 24.34 seconds. However, Proper had to settle for the silver medal in the women’s 100 meters final as McSweeney shaded it with 12.20 seconds to Proper’s 12.21 with Niamh Whelan of Ferrybank taking third in 12.31 seconds.
There was a superb winning performance by Brian Gregan of Tallaght A.C in the men’s 400 meters final. Gregan, who is one of the best of the emerging young Irish talents, won the event in 46.44 seconds from Brian Murphy, (UCC A.C), 47.91 and Billy Ryan, (Ferrybank A.C), 48.29.
Marian Andrews of Togher A.C won the women’s 400 meters final in 55.02 seconds from Clare Bergin , (DSD), 55.59 and Louise McArdle, (Leevale A.C), 56.59.
Tom Carey of Limerick A.C won the men’s 400 meters hurdles in 52.28 seconds from Jermey Lyons, (Clonliffe Harriers), 53.84 and Tim Crowe, (Dooneen A.C), 54.21. Michelle Carey of Dublin Striders took gold in the women’s 400m hurdles in 57.82 seconds from Brona Furlong, (Slaney Olympic), 60.06 and Christina McMahon, (Ballymena & Antrim), 62.91 There was a comfortable victory too in the men’s 5,000 meters for Alistair Cragg of Clonliffe Harriers. Cragg won as he pleased in 13:52.15 and there was a close contest for the silver and bronze medals with Sean Connolly of Tallaght A.C just edging out Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers), for the silver in 14:01.32.
Robert Heffernan of Togher A.C showed impressive form in the men’s 10,000m race walk-winning in 39:11.72 from Colin Griffin, (Ballinamore A.C), 40:02.09 Roseanne Galligan of Newbridge A.C used her finishing speed to good effect to win the women’s 800 meters in 2:04.66 from Kelly McNeice,(Lisburn A.C), 2:05.15 and Ciara Everard, (KCH), 2:06.43. This was a personal best for Galligan who has made a great return to form this season.
Deirdre Byrne of Sli Cualann A.C turned in a strong performance to win the women’s 1500 meters in 4.25.41 from Kelly McNeice, (Liscarroll A.C), 4.26.33 and Roisin McGettigan, (Sli Cualann), 4.27.50.
Spectator numbers were up considerably for this year’s championships. The final team selections for the World Championships in Berlin will be released on Tuesday.
This 800 meters had been primed as one of the expected highlight events of the championships- a showdown between the defending champion, Chamney, and his arch rival, David Campbell of St Coca’s A.C. Both athletes had already achieved the 800m B qualifying standard for Berlin with the outcome of yesterday’s race expected to give the final guide line to Athletics Ireland selectors of who should travel to Berlin.
With none of the other finalists willing to taken the early pace, it was left to David Campbell to try and control things at the front from an early stage. However, it was defending champion Thomas Chamney who proved to have the extra gear in the home straight and the tall Crusaders A.C athlete roared home in 1.49.87 ahead of Campbell, 1.50.20 and Alan O’Brien, ( Crusaders A.C), 1.51.40 who took the bronze medal.
This was a hugely satisfying performance for Thomas Chamney who has been showing great consistency in his racing performances over the past several weeks. “I had expected David Campbell to take the race out and my plan was that if he made it fast I would wait until the finishing straight to try and go by him, “ Chamney said. “If he took it out slow, my plan was to pick it up with 200 meters to go and again with 100 meters to go. These were the two scenarios that I played out in my head. Then, when the pace was not too fast I put the boot down with about 120 meters to go and luckily I held on for the win.”
Immediately after winning the 800 meters event, Chamney declared his interest in competing in both the 800m and 1,500m in the World Championships. “The 1500m is on first in Berlin and the way I have been training this year has a lot to do with strength work which should suit the 1500m., “ Chamney said. “I could take my chances there of making it through the heats and the 800m is not until later in the week. It will obviously be up to the selectors, but if they gave me the option of running both events I would do both. I think I can make the semi-final of the 1500m as there are not too many in this event that can run 1.45 for 800 meters every day of the week- something that I have already done three times this season. I am something of a novice still at 1500m and I think that this season my 1.45.4 best for 800 meters is better than my 3.37.6 for 1500 meters. I have built a big base of strength over the Winter and I feel that I could make the semi-final at the World Championships in both events.”
David Campbell was in low key mood after the 800 meters final and he expressed disappointment that there was no other athlete in the field willing to make an early bid for glory. “It seems as if everyone else settles in and races for the third position once Thomas Chamney and myself are in the field, “ he said.
However, Campbell was back in action again later in the afternoon winning the men’s 1500m final in 3.51.96 from Mark Kenneally, (Clonliffe Harriers), 3.54.05 and Mark Hanrahan, (Leevale A.C), 3.54.10. This was a more satisfying performance by Campbell and afterward he still held on to a glimmer of hope that the Athletics Ireland selectors might give him a chance to compete in Berlin.
“Both Thomas Chamney and myself have the B qualifying standard for Berlin and Thomas has been talking all year about running 1500m. Maybe he will now decide to concentrate on this event in Berlin and open up a chance for me to race there at 800 meters, “ Campbell said. “I think that there is a good case to made for this to happen. I think that if it was the other way around it would be put to me to come up with a similar arrangement that two people should be going instead of one. Everything was impossible last year and then made possible. I am hoping that the same happens this year.”
There were many other impressive performances at Santry over the weekend including a 200 meters victory by David Gillick of Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club who powered his way down the home straight into a strong win to take the national title in 21.43 seconds. “I don’t run the distance often, but this was very enjoyable, “ Gillick said.
Eileen O’Keefe of Kilkenny City Harriers was also in winning form as she threw the hammer 69.91 meters- a seasonal best. “I’m just thrilled to be throwing again, “ O’Keefe said. The Kilkenny athlete has been through some tough times with injury and surgery but she is now bouncing back to something like her best.
Olive Loughnane of Loughrea A.C dominated the women’s 5000m race walk on Saturday- winning in a lifetime best of 21:03.39. Loughnane, who was Ireland’s best athletics performer (7th) in the Beijing Olympics last year, is confident that she can again deliver a quality performance in Berlin. “Hopefully, I will do it on the day in Berlin and this victory here in Santry in a personal best is a big confidence boost.,” she said.
There was some drama yesterday in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase final when race leader Mark Kirwan of Raheny Shamrock A.C took a bad tumble at the water jump with less than 200 meters remaining. Kirwan had made a brave bid for victory, but the late tumble was too much for him and it was defending champion, Rory Chesser of Ennis Track Club who gained the advantage and stormed home to victory in 9:03.01 ahead of Emmet Dunleavy of Sligo A.C. Kirwan gamely picked himself up and finished a gallant third in 9:07.78.
Only Ailish McSweeney of Leevale A.C was able to deny the multi talented Kelly Proper of Ferrybank A.C a treble in the championships. Proper won the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.68 meters- a championship best performance and followed that with victory in the women’s 200 meters in 24.34 seconds. However, Proper had to settle for the silver medal in the women’s 100 meters final as McSweeney shaded it with 12.20 seconds to Proper’s 12.21 with Niamh Whelan of Ferrybank taking third in 12.31 seconds.
There was a superb winning performance by Brian Gregan of Tallaght A.C in the men’s 400 meters final. Gregan, who is one of the best of the emerging young Irish talents, won the event in 46.44 seconds from Brian Murphy, (UCC A.C), 47.91 and Billy Ryan, (Ferrybank A.C), 48.29.
Marian Andrews of Togher A.C won the women’s 400 meters final in 55.02 seconds from Clare Bergin , (DSD), 55.59 and Louise McArdle, (Leevale A.C), 56.59.
Tom Carey of Limerick A.C won the men’s 400 meters hurdles in 52.28 seconds from Jermey Lyons, (Clonliffe Harriers), 53.84 and Tim Crowe, (Dooneen A.C), 54.21. Michelle Carey of Dublin Striders took gold in the women’s 400m hurdles in 57.82 seconds from Brona Furlong, (Slaney Olympic), 60.06 and Christina McMahon, (Ballymena & Antrim), 62.91 There was a comfortable victory too in the men’s 5,000 meters for Alistair Cragg of Clonliffe Harriers. Cragg won as he pleased in 13:52.15 and there was a close contest for the silver and bronze medals with Sean Connolly of Tallaght A.C just edging out Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers), for the silver in 14:01.32.
Robert Heffernan of Togher A.C showed impressive form in the men’s 10,000m race walk-winning in 39:11.72 from Colin Griffin, (Ballinamore A.C), 40:02.09 Roseanne Galligan of Newbridge A.C used her finishing speed to good effect to win the women’s 800 meters in 2:04.66 from Kelly McNeice,(Lisburn A.C), 2:05.15 and Ciara Everard, (KCH), 2:06.43. This was a personal best for Galligan who has made a great return to form this season.
Deirdre Byrne of Sli Cualann A.C turned in a strong performance to win the women’s 1500 meters in 4.25.41 from Kelly McNeice, (Liscarroll A.C), 4.26.33 and Roisin McGettigan, (Sli Cualann), 4.27.50.
Spectator numbers were up considerably for this year’s championships. The final team selections for the World Championships in Berlin will be released on Tuesday.
