Breeda Dennehy-Willis (Bandon AC) placed ninth in the 5,000m at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games held in Hengelo, Netherlands on 4th June. The Cork Olympian's time was 15:15.49 which is well under the Edmonton World Championship A standard of 15:22.00. Next up for Dennehy-Willis will be securing the 10,000m A standard 32:00.00. She ran 32.36.50 in a solo effort in Philadelphia in late April. Maria McCambridge, (Dundrum South Dublin) placed twelfth in 15:49.64. In a race marred with bumps and falls, UCD's James Nolan managed to stay on his feet in the 1,500m running 3:40.97 for sixth place.
Dennehy Willis photo by Randy Miyazaki
Gary Ryan ran 21.40 (+1.4) in the 200 metres for fourth place at the Venizelia 2001 meeting held at the Helena Venizelou stadium in Chania, Crete on 4th June. The Nenagh Olympic star placed third in the 100m in 10.60 (+2.1) at the British Athletics League Division meeting held in Birmingham on 2nd June.
Karen Shinkins (Kilkenny City Harriers) won the 400 metres in 52.27 at the EAA meeting Golden Spike held in Ostrava, Czech Republic on 31st May 2001. The Irish 400m record holder also ran 51.88 to finish second at the DLV Permit - Diamonds Cup meeting held in Rehlingen, Germany on 4th June.
IAAF GP II adidas Oregon Track Classic
Portland, Oregon, USA - 3rd June 2001
Una English (Dublin City Harriers) debuted with a brilliant performance in the 3,000m at the Oregon Track Classic. The Paris-based Dublin City Harrier ran 8:55.82 for sixth place. World Indoor qualifier Daniel Caulfield also had a strong debut in his specialty, the 800 metres. Caulfield (DCH) ran 1.46.80 for fifth place. Continuing a string of fine Irish performances, Cormac Smith, the reigning Irish Champ over the barriers placed tenth in the 3,000m steeplechase in 8:42.43, his first steeple of the year. Unfortunately, Andrew Walker, (Clonliffe Harriers) perhaps fatigued after several weeks of hard training in California with the KIM group of Kenyans did not finish the mile - dropping out at the 600 metre mark.
Cormac Smith photo by Randy Miyazaki
Roman Linscheid (Donore Harriers) placed second in the hammer with a throw of 70.61m at the Harry Jerome meeting in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada on 3rd June. This is his fourth consecutive meet with a throw exceeding 70 metres - a feat he didn't manage last season. Linscheid, whose personal best is 76.25m (#3 All-time Irish list) and Raheny Shamrock's Paddy McGrath whose best effort is 77.49 (#2 All-time Irish List) should produce a brilliant hammer competition when they collide at the Irish Championships this July. McGrath has already thrown 72.64m this season.
Cobh's Sonia O'Sullivan placed second at the 2001 Dublin Women's Mini Marathon held on 4th June. The Irish Olympic Silver Medallist covered the 10 kilometre course in 33:26, a half-minute behind winner, Magdaline Chemjor of Kenya and almost tow minutes off her course record of 31:28 set in last year's event. Rounding the top 5 were: Valerie Vaughan, Blarney/Inniscara AC, 34:00; Mary Donoghue, Clonliffe Harriers, 34:48 and in fifth place, Anne Lennon, Mayo AC in 35:04. Click here for more on O'Sullivan's planned hiatus.
photo courtesy of Dublin Mini-Marathon
In the it didn't happen on the track nor does it involve Irish athletes category, American Olympic heroine and triple gold medallist Marion Jones announced her separation from husband C.J. Hunter, the reigning shot putt World Champion. Her statement released through the US athletics governing body USATF read: "It is with regret that I announce my separation from C.J. Hunter, my husband of nearly three years. In the near future, I plan to seek a divorce due to irreconcilable differences, which have made nurturing our marriage extremely difficult. Having no mutual children, we have determined that this course is best for our respective futures. For several years, C.J. and I relied on each other for support both on and off the track and field, which has left us with many memorable experiences. I wish him well. In addition, I sincerely ask that our privacy be truly respected during this trying time."
North Down International Games at Ballykillaire
Bangor, Northern Ireland, 2nd June 2001
Men
100m A race, 3rd, 10.36 (+4.5), John McAdorey, Ballymena
100m B race, 3rd, 10.68w, Jer O'Donoghue, Leevale
200m 3rd, 21.15w Tom Comyns, Limerick
400m 1st, 47.85, Paul McKee, Beechmount; 3rd, 48.01 David McCarthy, Celbridge
800m 2nd, 1.53.45, Brendan O'Shea, Clonliffe
3,000m 2nd, Séamus Power, Kilmurray Ibrickane, 8:16.61; 3rd, Peter Matthews, DSD, 8:17.50
110m hurdles 1st, Brendan Bourke, Limerick, 14.85w, 2nd Ashley Henry, Corran 15.04w
Javelin 3rd Niall Tuckey, Raheny Shamrocks, 61.58m
Women
100m 2nd, 11.53w, Sarah Reilly, Birchfield
200m A race, 1st, Sarah Reilly, Birchfield
200m B race, 3rd, 24.79w, Michelle Carey, Crusaders
400m 3rd, 57.42, Jennifer McKenna, Metro-St Brigids
100m hurdles 1st, 13.62, Derval O'Rourke, Leevale
Triple Jump 2nd, 12.28m + wind, Sharon Foley, Lifford; 3rd, 11.98m + wind, Catriona Hanifan, St Johns
Sarah Reilly photo Erin Keogh
Natalie Davey of Mayo ran 34:46 to win the women's 'Citizen' section of the Bolder-Boulder 10k road race held in, you guessed it, Boulder, Colorado. Davey's time would have placed twelfth in the 'Professional' division which was won by American Deena Drossin in 33:25.
Boston High Performance Series
Sponsored by New Balance
Waltham, Massachusetts, USA 2nd June 2001
- 800m, 3rd, Sinead Delahunty, KCH, 2:06.85
- 1,500m 7th, Orla Mahoney, UCD, 4:39.24
Boston High Performance Series
Waltham, Massachusetts, USA 26th May 2001
- 5,000m 2nd Breeda Dennehy Willis, Bandon 15:34.37 5th, Marie Davenport (McMahon), Clare 16:26.14
- 1,500m 7th, Enda Johnson, Monaghan,3:49.50; 11th, Larry Morrissey, Waterford, 3:51.25; 15th, Dermot Galvin, Clare, 3:57.33
- 1,500m 6th Kathryn Casserly 4:33.06
Enda Johnson photo by Randy Miyazaki
