Laura Crowe of Riocht ran a personal best of 2:02.69 for 800m when finishing 7th in the Bislett Games in Oslo – just over a second outside the World Championships B standard of 2:01.50.
*Brian Gregan, one of Ireland’s best hopes of victory at the European Team Championships in Santry on June 22/23 ran a personal best 45.53 for 400m in Huelva, Spain tonight. Gregan beat Jamaica’s Conrad Williams and Luke Lennon-Ford of the UK; his time is inside the B qualifying mark for the World Championships.
At the same meet, Rose-Anne Galligan improved her 800m time to 2:01.07, also a B qualifying mark for the World Championships, while Fionnuala Britton finished fourth in the 5000m in 15:45.20.
Gregan, along with Britton and Derval O’Rourke will lead the Irish team next week in Santry. Others pre-picked were Irish-American pole vaulter Tori Pena and Ferrybank’s Kelly Proper who will go in the long jump after setting a new Irish heptathlon record recently.
Amy Foster of Lisburn will double up in the 100m and 200m, while Sinead Denny goes in the 400m and Jessie Barr, who 56.93 in Morocco last week, in the 400m hurdles.
For the middle distances, the selectors had three good candidates – Roseanne Galligan, Laura Crowe and Claire Tarplee. They opted for Galligan in the 800m and Tarplee in the 1500m, so pushing Crowe up to the 3000m, not her specialist distance. Fionnuala Britton is top ranked for 3000m, followed by Kerry Harty. Britton goes in the 5000m, where Mary Cullen is top ranked for the season, although not racing at present..
Another athlete missing out is UCD’s Ciara Everard, who ran so brilliantly indoors, but is injured.
In the throws, Aoife Hickey goes in the hammer and some good results in the USA, Anita Fitzgibbon in the javelin and Claire Fitzgerald in both shot and discus. With Deirdre Ryan injured, Aisling Croke of Dooneen goes in the high jump.
A highlight of the men’s competition will be the 100m, where Jason Smyth makes his first appearance on Irish soil this season. Marcus Lawler is picked for the 200m, ahead of Steven Colvert; Brian Gregan goes in the 400m and Mark English in the 800m.
A surprise selection for the 5000m is Shane Quinn of Ferrybank. Not available are Ciarain O Lionard for the middle/long distances, Thomas Barr, 400m hurdles and Conor McCullough, hammer. In the pole vault, American-based Brian McGovern should pick up valuable points. Colin Quirke is picked for both shot and discus, while one to watch in the javelin is 19-year-old Matthew Martin of North Down who has thrown 63.54 so far this year.
* Irish Olympians David Gillick of DSD and Joanne Cuddihy of Kilkenny City Harriers have been named as men and women’s captains to the team.
Team (updated) -Women: Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) 100m/200m, Sinead Denny (DSD) 400m, Rose-Anne Galligan (Newbridge) 800m, Claire Tarplee (DSD) 1500m, Laura Crowe (Riocht) 3000m, Kerry Harty (Newcastle) 5000m, Michelle Finn (Leevale) 3000m S/C, Sarah Lavin (Emerald) 100m H, Jessie Barr (Ferrybank) 400m H, Aisling Croke (Dooneen) high jump, Tori Pena, pole vault, Kelly Proper (Ferrybank) long jump, Caoimhe King (Aughagower) triple jump, Claire Fitzgerald (Tralee Hrs) shot/discus, Aoife Hickey (KCH) hammer, Anita Fitzgibbon (DSD) javelin. 4×100 – Phil Healy (Bandon), Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank, Ailis McSweeney (Leevale), Steph Creaner (Celtic DCH), Sarah Lavin (Emerald), Louise Kiernan (Fingallians).4x400m – Denny, Barr, Jennifer Carey, Shauna Cannon (Bros Pearse), Claire Mooney (Naas), Grainne Moynihan (W Muskerry).
Men – Jason Smyth (City of Derry) 100m, Marcus Lawler (SLOT) 200m, Brian Gregan (Clonliffe) 400m, Anthony Leighio (Tallaght) 800m, Eoin Everard (KCH) 1500m, David McCarthy ( W Waterford) 3000m, Shane Quinn (Ferrybank) 5000m, Tomas Cotter (Dunleer) 3000m S/C, Ben Reynolds (Nth Down) 110m H, Jason Harvey (Crusaders) 400m H, Simon Phelan (Clonliffe) high jump, Brian McGovern pole vault, David Quilligan (Leevale) long jump, Denis Finnegan (Leevale) triple jump, Colin Quirke (Crusaders) shot/discus, Padraig White (Dunboyne), hammer, Mathew Martin (Nth Down) javelin. 4x100m– Lawler, David Hynes (Menapians), Dean Adams (Ballymena and Antrim), Steven Colvert (Crusaders),Craig Lynch (Shercock), Zak Irwin (Sligo) . 4x400m – Gregan, Harvey, Dara Kerwick (Carrick-on-Suir), Richard Morrissey (Crusaders), Joe Dowling (DSD), Brian Murphy (Crusaders).
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