Track and Field Nationals 2008

Crusaders who’s who and the ones to watch?


110m Hurdles
Crusaders own this event. No non-Crusaders winner since 1997. Ian "Hamilton" McDonald going for three in a row on the back of a breakthrough season where he has run 14.01w twice and finished 2nd at European Cup for Ireland. Only possible threat is if some miracle of science allows Peter Coghlan to appear for the first time since 2005 so Crusaders can go for the 1-2.

100m/200m
Olympian, World Students Games silver and bronze medalist Paul Hession is worth
coming out to see. On the Crusaders front we have a number ...
of our promising Junior athletes shaping up against Irelands best Seniors. Tope, Patrick, Eoin and John.

On the ladies side Liz Melvin is the main Crusader to keep an eye out for. A possible final if all goes to plan… and Larry has planned it with precise detail!

400m
This will have our French national Maxime trying to improve on his season’s best of 53 point. With a PB of 48 he is confident of this. Ones to watch will be the obvious – 2 time Indoor European Champion David Gillick with Paul McKee, Brian Doyle, Gordon Kennedy, Brian Murphy and Brain Gregan fighting for the silver and bronze.

800m
Crusaders Thomas Chamney will be looking to regain his National Title from 2006 after a successful 1.46.66 in Italy during the week. Next to him is the new and much improved Al OB (Ooo Be), having won his last 2 races in personal best times he will be in the mix in the final. Newly Ivan Kinahan will have to watch from the sidelines this year as he is suffering a wrist injury from carrying his new wedding band. Other Crusaders to watch will be Buns Carrigan and Rob Angry. Both recently coming back from ‘aul fella’ injuries.

1500m
The 1500m is light this year as far as Crusaders Men re concerned. The ones to watch would be defending champion Dave Campbell and Liam Reale the Limerick man.

Our new find this year Niamh will gear up for the ladies event and hopes to improve with yet another PB over the distance.

10,000m
This will be a cracker up front with a selection of top Irish challenging for medals. A late entry is Alistair Cragg who, coming off his double 3.39 and 7.55 last weekend in Cork should be ready to roll out a fast time. Crusaders new man, Matt Flaherty will give this 25 lap grueller a go and try to hit his target of 30 minutes. It looks good off a personal best 8.28 3k 2 weeks ago.

Others involved will be former champions Killian Lonergan, Joe McAllister, Vinny Mulvey and Gary Thornton.

3000m Steeplchase
Well Eugene O’Neill is the Crusader to watch here, 6 time champ looking for number 7, he has great experience and a wise head. Some depth to the event this year with added interest from athletes such as Emmett Dunleavy a 3.48 man over 1500m, Brian Farrell a 3.49 man and new young kid Rory Chesser. Mark Kirwan will try to retain his title, but if you have been down in Irishtown lately, I’d keep an eye on Euge!!

Long Jump
Crusaders to Watch
Steve Fleming PB 7.51 SB 7.26. A vet at this event, ‘literally’. He still keeps coming back to fend off the younger hopefuls and quash their ambitions of being Irish number one. Steve is looking to add to his indoor title he won back in January.
Ones to watch - Eoin Hannon (if he's fit), Alan Kennedy, Chris Crowley

Javelin
Normally, Niall Tuckey is our hope here but he is on baby sitting duty this weekend as the wife has headed off with the girls. In any event ones to watch are the non-nationals. There are two good guys from Latvia that should do the business. Third either Michael McConnicky or Paul marry.
Winner will throw about 62 – 63

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Victory in Switzerland for Flemming

Steven Flemming won a long jump competition in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland over the weekend with a 7.22m effort. No progress on the Carlos O'Connell record of 7.63 yet but he must have a few competitions left so we wish him all the best.

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