Success at National Indoors

The weekend saw many of the clubs track and field athletes head to the Odyssey, Belfast. The elements were not kind this week and heavy snow fall meant conditions outside were tough and unpleasant. What better place to be than competing indoors. The 2009 event was the 5th Irish Indoor Championship to be held at the Odyssey. Athletes used to competing indoors were probably not accustomed to the warm conditions not usually experienced at our other indoor venue, Nenagh.

A number of medals were hauled in by the Crusaders bunch, first to be taken home was by new man, French Native and another Crusaders high Hurdler, Alexandre Avron, taking silver in a time of 8s38. The Saturday evening heats saw regulars Ivan Kinahan and Rob Cross run over 800 and 1500 respectively. New man and National Indoor 800 relay silver medalist Paul Breslin produced a sizzling run to take home a pb of 1.58.5 (to be confirmed on official results). Unfortunately time was not enough to get Ivan and Paul through into Sundays final as the 800m had a very tough qualification of 1 from each heat. Alan O'Brien progressed well to make Sundays 1500m final.

Up early and ready for some Arial gymnastics, Ru O'Brian returned to vaulting after a sabbatical down under. Training was not high on the agenda down there, however Ru has been seen in Irishtown logging miles on the treadmills to achieve fitness again. A jump of 4m40 was good enough for the former National Champion and European Cup representative to take home a bronze medal. Perhaps Ru will rekindle that form from a few years back to recapture that outdoor National Gold in 2009.

The last event with a featured Crusader was the 1500 final with Big Al or OB as he is known to his comrades in the barracks. Having had a huge winter, winning Dublin and National Novice titles, taking home National silver as part of the 3 by 3000m indoor relay team, Alans' confidence was high. He was excited and ready to run a big one. Michael Mc G has worked hard with Alan all winter and he himself was quietly confident. The gun went and a UK athlete who was guesting in the championships took to the front at a ferocious pace. Not surprising given Neil Speight has run 1.45 point for 800 and 3.38 for 1500. They Irish lads let him go and raced for the title of National Indoor Champion. Limerick man and previous Silver and bronze medalist at these championships Pat McCartan took up the running. He wound up the pace trying to burn off the Crusaders man. Soon it was down to 2 Pat and Alan having dropped last years champion Gareth Hill. Pat kept applying the pressure and Alan stuck to him like glue. With 240m to go it was time for Alans move, it was precise, it was all or nothing it was tactical genius. He burst to the front hitting the bell now in the Gold medal position. He hammered arounf the turn and opened up down the back straight. Head down, jets fueling he had now hit top gear, hit the boosters, turbo injection ... it was time to become a Senior Champion, a National Champion, he thought to himself "Yes I like the sound of Alan O'Brien, National Irish Indoor Champion 2009". He crossed the line in a new pb time of 3.49.12, what better way to win than in a personal best.

Well done to Alan and all the Crusaders medalists and indoor competitors at the Odyssey in Belfast.