Day One - 22 September
Paul Brizzell photo by Erin Keogh
By T. Patrick O'Dowd
Irish Athletics - Sydney Olympic Results
Day Seven - 28 September
Gillian O'Sullivan (Farranafore Maine Valley AC) surprised many with her performance in the 20- kilometre walk. The young racewalker from Killarney, co. Kerry celebrated her twenty-fourth birthday last month in Australia at the pre-Olympic, training camp placed tenth in 1:33:10. O'Sullivan attended UCC where she received a B.A. and finished with a H. Dip in Education. She resides in Cork as a teacher where she's taken time off to train. Before the Games she said, "I am so thrilled to qualify and am excited that I will be representing my country in Sydney. It was also a great boost that my qualifying time set a National record"(1.31.31) on 17 June 2000 in Eisenhuttenstadt, Germany. Road courses vary and the quality of a performance can't always be measured by time. Olive Loughnane (Loughrea AC) placed 35th in 1.38.23. Loghnane, from Galway began specializing in the walk event in 1995 and represented Ireland two years later in the 1996 European Championships.
Day Six - 27 September
Sinéad Delahunty photo by T. Patrick O'Dowd
It was deja vu for Sinéad Delahunty in the opening round of the 1,500 metres. In Atlanta she narrowly missed qualifying for the semifinal and it was the same in Sydney by the smallest of margins. The Kilkenny runner ran 4.11.75 to place seventh in the third of three qualifying heats. The top six in each qualified automatically along with next six fastest times. Usually being in the final section is an advantage because the athletes are aware of the performances in the prior heats and just how fast or slow they need to run to qualify. The first section had a blanket finish with the top 7 running 4.08 led by American medal favourite Suzy Favor Hamilton. The second race was slower with first place being 4.10.18 (Violeta Beclea-Szekely, Romania) and the last automatic place qualifier was 4.10.82 (Seloua Ouaziz, Morocco). Knowing this, one would expect the final race to be a swift - in the 4.06 - 4.07 territory. It was not the case - hitting 800m in 2.15.74 and 1200m 3.23.30. Delahunty was in fine form in fifth with a lap to go in the race. With 200m to go, Delahunty was having trouble as the lead pack spread out and was unable to respond in the final straightaway fading to seventh. Ireland's loss was Australia's gain as their 16 year-old 'wonder-kid', Georgie Clarke excited the fans as she placed eighth in the second race getting the last qualifying spot on time.
Sonia O'Sullivan photo by Erin Keogh
Sonia O'Sullivan has barely had time to recover from her 5k effort and the associated celebrations before she had to step on the track for the 10,000m qualifying heat. She covered the 25 laps effortlessly in racing flats saving her legs for the final. The top eight in each of the two heats were guaranteed a spot in the final and O'Sullivan resisted getting caught up in the battle for first settling for a relaxed seventh in 32.29.93. After the race, a relieved O'Sullivan said, "It was hot. I didn't fell either good or bad. It was difficult not to go with the leaders, but there was no reason to. There was no pressure to run fast today. The real race is on Saturday. That's when we'll find out how much the 5,000 took out of me." The second race was slower with first place being Kenyan Sally Barsosio in 32.34.07. Breeda Dennehy Willis placed eleventh and like Sinead Delahunty had the dubious honour missing qualifying by one spot albeit seventeen seconds (Libbie Johnson-Hickman, USA, 32.59.28). The Bandon runner was never in contention as she allowed a gap to occur between to the two packs. Dennehy Willis still needs to be congratulated having qualified for the 5,000m and 10,000m events and being the fastest non-Sonia runner in Ireland.
Sarah Reilly photo by Erin Keogh
After Sarah Reilly's fine performance in the opening round of the 100m, good things were expected from her in the 200m. More than 100,000 people were intensely watching Reilly's race. Why the sudden interest in Irish sprinting? The explanation was simple, Australian national hero and Golden-girl Cathy Freeman lined in lane three with Reilly in lane five. The Birchfield placed fifth in 23.43 with the top four moving on to round two. While the crowd cheered for Freeman, Reilly was taken away in a wheelchair after collapsing at the finish line. She had been ill the past few days. Paul Brizzell (Ballymena and Antrim) had the same luck in his race although he walked way. Brizzell ran in the ninth of nine heats with the top three finishers earning a ticket to the second round. Brizzell was off his best (20.54) running 20.98 for fourth.
Mark Carroll photo courtesy of Leevale AC
Before the Olympics there were two Irish athletes that were medal threats. They were Sonia O'Sullivan and Mark Carroll, both in the 5,000 metre event. Carroll had the luxury of being in the second of two qualifying heats. The top six finishers in each race along with the next three fastest times qualified for the final. Sixth place in the first race was Kenyan star Richard Limo (13.23.17) and that should have been the target for the second race. Carroll did everything right for most of the race being in the top five through nine laps. At that point, the pace slowed a bit with everyone thinking and believing in their finishing speed. The Leevale must have felt confident at this point given his success over shorter distances this year. Surprisingly, the Corkman's kick abandoned him at the time he needed it most.
Day Five - 26 September - Rest Day - No Competition
Day Four - 25 September
Sonia O'Sullivan photo by Erin Keogh
Sonia O'Sullivan ran a Golden race for a Silver medal in the Olympic 5,000m final. The Cobh Olympian ran a textbook tactical race. Her time of 14.41.02 improved her personal best and Irish record (14.41.40) that was set in Berlin, Germany on 1 September 1995. Gabriela Szabo, the reigning World 5k and Olympic 1,500m champion won in 14.40.79. O'Sullivan ran patiently through the early and middle part of the race content to let her Romanian rival lead much of the race. With 200m remaining, O'Sullivan left her perch upon Szabo's shoulder and moved even as they hit the penultimate turn. It was easy for an Irish fan to regress back to her glory days almost assuming that she would effortless pull away as she has so many times. Unfortunately, the diminutive Romanian had a bit more spring in her twenty-five year-old legs and edged O'Sullivan by a stride and .23 seconds. Seeing the glass temporarily half-full, O'Sullivan told Ian O'Riordan of the Irish Times, "I suppose it could have been worse. But I couldn't believe I was so close. There were moments in there when I was worried whether I could keep up but I'll just have to come back now and go one better in the 10,000 metres." Third place and the Bronze medal went to Ethiopia's Gete Wami in 14.42.23 who has run the seasonal world best time of 14.30.38. It's hard to believe that when O'Sullivan waved from rostrum, it was the first time for an Irish woman to collect an Olympic medal in athletics. Filled with confidence, forty hours of rest and probably more finishing speed than her challengers, O'Sullivan will contest the 10,000m qualifying round on Wednesday vying for a spot in Saturday's night final. Click here for a photo of the 5,000m finish. Tuesday, 26 September is a rest day and there is no competition. Click here for a photo of the 5,000m finish.
James Nolan photo by Erin Keogh
UCD's James Nolan's transition from 800m to Olympic 1,500m runner hit a huge roadblock - the qualifying heats. The UCD star had Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenyan standout William Chirchir in his section, the first of three qualifying races. As is the custom, a relatively slow pace was set hitting the 800m in 2.01. Nolan was in contention through the first kilometer and a fast finish would seem to favour an 800m specialist but could only manage a 3.40.50 for ninth place. With the top six in each heat guaranteed a spot in the semifinal, the lad from Tullamore, Co Offaly was left an interested spectator hoping he could land one of the six time qualifier spots. Nolan's hopes were still alive as the second heat was sluggish with sixth place being 3.40.96 (Gabe Jennings, USA). His dreams were dashed when twelve of the fourteen competitors in the final section bettered his time. Nolan is young and surely learned from this and can apply this hard lesson next year in Edmonton, Canada in the World Championships.
Day Three - 24 September
Peter Coghlan photo by Ricky Simms
Peter Coghlan (Crusaders) drew lane seven in the second of six qualifying races in the 110m hurdles on a cold, rainy day fit for the Irish. Hampered by injuries all season including groin surgery in February, Coghlan's legs was certainly fresh albeit a bit rusty. Couglan ran 14.03 (+0.4) for sixth in his race moving on to the next round by qualifying by time. In the second round the Yale graduate was placed in the fourth of four heats and once again in lane seven. The Atlanta-based Dubliner took advantage of another race running 13.86 (+0.3), a seasonal best but far from his personal best and Irish record of 13.30 set in Hechtel, Belgium on 7 August 1999. Couglan holds nine of the top ten Irish hurdle performances.
Nicky Sweeney photo by Ricky Simms
John Menton threw fifth in Group A and Nick Sweeney threw eleventh in Group B in the discus qualification. Menton fouled on his first throw followed by 54.21m and 50.95m efforts. Today's best was well off the Donore star's seasonal and personal best of 63.70m set in Oakhurst, New Jersey on 1 July. Sweeney, the Irish record holder (67.87m, Helsingborg, Sweden, 4 September 1998), series consisted of marks of 56.73m, 56.24m and 57.37m. Like Menton, Sweeney's throw were about ten metres off his best. This is the third Olympics for the Dundrum South Dublin athlete who has had one more knee surgery than he has Irish National titles and he has nine of them has announced his retirement.
Susan Smith Walsh photo by Erin Keogh
Tom McGuirk (lane 3, heat 4 of 8) placed seventh in 51.73. His time was not in the neighourhood of his personal best and Irish record of 49.73 set four years ago and his seasonal best of 50.17 run in April both in California. The Dublin City Harrier was also eliminated in the first round in Atlanta in 1996. McGuirk announced in August in Santry that Sydney would be his last competition. He leaves the sport holding the top eighteen performances in the 400m-hurdle event.
Susan Smith Walsh also announced that she would end her illustrious career in Sydney. The Waterford star placed fourth in the fourth heat running in lane four. Perhaps these are good numbers for the lottery but not to advance to the second round. She ran 57.08 in windy and cold conditions. Not at her best by any means, Smith Walsh had a sore leg and a sore throat but she ran the race as gutsy as any competition she's entered. She holds both the 100m and 400m Irish hurdle records and has reached the semifinals in the Olympics (Atlanta) and in the finals in the 1997 World Championships (seventh).
Day Two - 23 September
Dave Matthews photo by Erin Keogh
UCD's David Matthews placed fifth running 1.48.77 in the second of eight qualifying races. The Jim Kilty-coached lad was dealt a tough hand with medal favourite Djabir Said-Guerni (Algeria) and reigning European champ Nils Schumann (Germany) in his race. Matthews, from Leixlip, Co. Kildare trailed the pack as Schuman led them through a sluggish 54.66 sealing the fate of any runners hoping to get to the next round on time. He was unable to respond to the injection of pace and will have to hold on to memories of reaching the semifinals four years ago in Atlanta. Matthews, the Irish record holder (1:44.82) has been battling a series of niggling injuries all season and was greeted in Australia by influenza compounding his already precarious situation. In the first race, Irish expatriate, James McIlroy who declared for Great last year, moved on to the next round as a time qualifier or using the more pessimistic term - fastest loser by running 1:47.44 for third place.
Paddy McGrath photo by Ricky Simms
Paddy McGrath (Raheny Shamrocks) had a dismal day Group A of the hammer. McGrath's three throws were 67.00m, 64.09m and 64.35m, neither of which was near his seasonal best of 70.82m or his personal best of 77.49m. Nevertheless, the educator who lives in the Bronx in New York has the best Irish throw of the year and has won the last two Irish Championships. The hammer is a tradition-laden event in Ireland. To this day, our only two-time Olympic Champion remains a hammer thrower, Dr. Pat O'Callaghan.
Day One - 22 September Paul Brizzell
photo by Erin Keogh
Paul Brizzell (Ballymena & Antrim AC) placed sixth in his first round 100m race running 10.62 against a slight headwind of -0.5 metres per second. It was well off his personal best and the Irish record of 10.35 (+0.8) set in Haapsalu, Estonia on 20 June. Brizzell will compete in the first round of the 200m on Wednesday, 27 September.
Terry McHugh photo by Erin Keogh
Terry McHugh (Dublin City Harriers) threw 79.90m on his first attempt in the qualifying round of the javelin. His other marks were 77.33m on his second toss and 79.40 on his third. McHugh placed thirteenth in Group A. McHugh who last month won his seventeenth straight Irish Championship title holds the Irish record of 82.14m set in Helsinki, Finland on 7 August 1994. This is Terry's fourth consecutive Olympic appearance in the javelin along with partaking in the Winter Games twice.
Karen Shinkins photo by Ricky Simms
Karen Shinkins had a disappointing opening round in the 400 metres. The Dublin City Harrier ran 53.27 in her race for fourth place in her heat. Her seasonal best is 51.69 run in Budapest 22 July. Shinkins holds the Irish record of 51.07 set in Mallorca, Spain on 12 July 1999. Next up for Shinkins are the preliminaries of the 4 x 400m relay to be held a week from today on Friday, 29 September.
Tomas Coman photo by Erin Keogh
Tomas Coman (Templemore) placed fifth in the final qualifying heat running 46.17. Coman has run the fastest 400m by an Irishman this season with his 45.84 at the Dublin International on 29 July. Coman will be competing in men's 4 x 400m relay qualifying round on Friday, 29 September.
Sarah Reilly photo by Erin Keogh
Sarah Oxley Reilly ran 11.56 against a headwind of -0.2 metres per second. Reilly's participation was in doubt because of eligibility issues with Great Britain after the she won Irish Championships. The Birchfield star placed seventh in the second round running 11.53 (+0.7). These performances are sure to bring confidence to Reilly who will be competing in the 200m event on Wednesday 27 September. Reilly holds the fastest times run by an Irish athlete this season in the 100m (11.49, +1.2) and with her 200m (23.12, -0.5) Irish record.
Robert Heffernan photo courtesy of Der O'Donovan
Robert Heffernan (Togher) placed twenty-eighth in the 20 kilometres walk (road) in a time of 1:26:04. Robert Korzeniowski of Poland won the race in 1:18:59. Only twenty-two years old, a wee lad in the sport of racewalking, this Olympic experience should prove priceless for the Corkman.
Brendan Reilly photo by Ricky Simms
While Sarah Reilly was pleased with her performance in the 100m, her husband Brendan had a sub-bar performance in the qualifying round of the high jump. Reilly who qualified for the final in last year's World Championships in Seville could only manage a clearance of 2.20m which was well short of the 2.30m jump needed to advance to the final.
Sonia O'Sullivan photo by Erin Keogh
Sonia O'Sullivan (Cobh A.C.) like all of the pre-race favourites easily qualified for the 5,000m final to be held on Monday, 25 September. The Corkwoman ran a relaxed 15.07.91, which is her best time of the season. All of this season's training along with today's qualifying race is a build-up to what hopes to a rewarding finishing sprint against Romania's Gabriela Szabo, the reigning world champion. After the race, she talked about her race with reporters, "I was really pleased with that. Of course I was nervous out there but you're sometimes more nervous before the heats than the final. I was happy with my position throughout and running behind a few people but I know anything can happen in the final. But I definitely didn't finish as hard as I could and I just relaxed through the line."
Rosemary Ryan & Breeda Dennehy Willis photo by Erin Keogh
Prior to Olympics, the Internet was filled with speculation and advice to Breeda Dennehy Willis to enter only the 10,000m event - freeing up a spot for Una English or Maria McCambridge, who also met the 'A' Standard and were most affected by the bizarre, controversial power play made by the Irish Olympic Council selecting the women's 5k team prior to Irish Championships. Perhaps Dennehy Willis receives a bonus from her sponsors if she runs both or the Bandon runner felt more comfortable in the shorter race. In the first of three qualifying races, O'Sullivan was always near the front of the lead pack. Early on Rosemary Ryan (Balboa A.C.) battled - trying to keep in contact with the leaders. As the pace quickened she lost touch of the leaders but ran a courageous effort for eighth in 15.33.05 just sixteen seconds off her best which she ran in Belgium on 5 August of this year. Breeda Dennehy Willis never chased the main pack in her race, the third of three. She placed thirteenth in 15.49.58, more than thirty-six seconds off her best. She'll probably have to run close to two of today's performance back-to-back in order to qualify for the 10,000m final.