Pic courtesy Malcolm McCausland
Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle, Leevale’s Michelle Finn and Sarah Treacy of Dunboyne all went under the 9 mins 45 sec steeplechase qualifying standard for the Rio Olympics at the Letterkenny Sub-4 Minute International.
O’Flaherty produced a burst of speed with the line in sight to pass Finn for second in 9:42.61. Finn was third in 9:43.34 and Treacy – who took over in front after the pacemaker dropped out – fourth in 9:44.14. The winner of the race was American visitor Jamie Cheever in 9:40.99; she has a steeplechase PB of 9:29.13 from 2013. Both Kerry and Michelle’s times are also inside the World Championships qualifying mark of 9 mins 44 secs. In her steeplechase debut, Anne Marie McGlynn ran 10:37.16. Fab running girls!
Here’s what Kerry is saying the morning after:
“Absolutely over the moon and back this morning, still can’t believe what we did last night on the track – 3000m steeplechase – 9:42.61, PB, Northern Ireland Record and inside both World Championship and Olympic qualifying times!!!
AND At home in Ireland!!! Thank you sooooo much to Letterkenny AC and Daragh McDaid for organising the field and event, it was amazing.”
The list of qualifiers for Rio is now increased by almost a third (60% to be precise!). The five others with qualifying standards are Thomas Barr (Ferrybank ) 400m hurdles; walkers Alex Wright (Leevale) 20km and Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny)/Rob Heffernan (Togher ) 50km; and Breege Connolly (North Belfast Harriers) marathon.
Letterkenny Sub-4 Minute Mile Challenge Meet
100m: Lebakeng Sesele 10.53, 2 Tatenda Tsumbe 10.75, 3 Philip Redrick 10.99. 200m (+1.3): Tsumba 21.28, 2 Sesele 21.29, 3 Redrick 22.68. 400m: Armand van Zyl 49.53, 2 Ben Maze 49.54, 3 Evan McGuire 49.77. 800m: 1 Sam Ellison 1:49.72, 2 Patrick Schoenball 1:50.15, 3 Garry Campbell 1:54.46. Mile: 1 Jon Peterson 4:00.41, 2 Julian Oakley 4:01.45, 3 Clemens Bleistein 4:01.65. 3000m: 1 Carl Stones 8:27.28, 2 John Paul Williamson 8:35.16, 3 Conor Duffy 8:38.82. Javelin: 1 Joe Dunderdale 67.16, 2 Sean McBride 62.23, 3 Niall McGrattan 48.60
Women – 200m: 1 Louise Holmes 25.50, 2 Alessandra Feudatari 25.81, 3 Vicky Harris 25.86. 400m: 1 Sinead Denny 55.45, 2 Kate McGowan 57.79, 3 Rachel Gibson 59.50. 3000m S/C: 1 Jamie Cheever (USA) 9:40.99, 2 Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) 9:42.61, 3 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 9:43.34, 4 Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) 9:44.14. Long jump: Vivian Fleischer 5.54, 2 Karyn Dumigan 5.03, 3 Laura Frey 4.57.
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