P.B., Club Record, Leading Irishman, 3rd in Golden League Debut

Thomas Chamney ran a P.B. of 1:45.41, smashing the club record, extending his lead on the Irish rankings and finishing 3rd, all in his debut in the Golden League last Friday. As you can see the Crusaders singlet also got a run out in Oslo, not an occurrence we have seen too often in the past but one we hope to continue to see in the future. Videos of the race & post-race interview here.

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European Team Championships

This year the European Team Championships takes the place of the European/Europa Cup for the first time but the change doesn't seem to have bothered the Cru athletes as 5 have made it onto the mens half of the squad. They will compete alongside their male and female counterparts on the 20th and 21st of June in Banska Slovakia.

Of particular note are Juniors Colin Quirke and Steven Colvert. Quirke has made waves in the last few years breaking several national records and will throw both discus and shot in Banska. Colvert, one of our most recent members takes a place on the 4x100m squad. A massive achievement for his first year in the sport.

Congrats to all Crusaders who made the European Team Championships squad: Ian McDonald (110h), Steven Flemming (LJ), Thomas Chamney(800m), Colin Quirke (SP, DT) and Steven Colvert (4x100m).

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Cru at the Olympics

Irish athlete Thomas Chamney carried the flag for Crusaders for sure at the Beijing Olympics. He came 5th in heat 1 of the 800m with a time of 1:47.66. However he was not the only Crusader there. Slaven Dizdarevic competed in the Decathlon in which he finished 24th overall with 7021 points. Slaven spent over a year in Ireland during which time he trained in Irishtown and competed regularly with Crusaders. Tyler Christopher made the trip for Canada and ran in the 400m in which he finished 5th in heat 6 with a time of 45.67s. Tyler competed with Crusaders in the European Club Champions Cup in Maribor slovenia in 2005. Also Michelle Carey from Ireland competed in the womens 400m hurdles in which she ran 57.99 in the second heat. Although she now runs with Dublin Striders, she was a memebr of Crusaders with her parents when she was younger. Once a Crusader, always a Crusader!

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Come Wish Chamney Luck

Monday 4th August 6.30pm at the club in Irishtown Stadium.


Not many qualify for the Olympic Games, Not many you know get to go, let alone from your club. Come down on Monday 4th to wish Thomas well for Beijing. Show your support.


The plan is to meet maybe do a lap or two at the track, take some photos, and make a small presentation to him. We hope to be able to ask Tom some questions about his year in preparation, his training, how he plans to prepare for the heat and humidity in Beijing. It will be a great evening and you may get some good tips!
See you there

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Irish Times Cover 800m Olympic Struggle

Article 1 - Premature
Article 2 - The Real Deal

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Chamney Beijing Bound

Thomas Chamney received the news that brought a tear to his Mum and Dads eyes. After winning the National 800m Championship yesterday in Santry his name was put forward by AAI to be selected to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games in Beijing. A quick decision was made and Thomas got a call last night while having dinner with his closest and biggest supporters, Jo, John and Sarah. He left the table to take the call, as all good gentlemen would do, Mum thought it wasa No at first as he walked away without any sign of delight. Seconds later he popped his head around the doorway to give the thumbs up... he got it! The restaurant momentarily errupted from the Chamney corner as a lifetime dream had just been realised.

Thomas has competed for years and has always given his athletics 110%. In fourth year at school he decided a stint in Spain to train with some of their elite would be the type of work experience he needed. While others in his class took up positions at solicitors firms, accountant practices and the like Thomas packed his bags and grafted on the track with Reyes Estevez to mention but one. His work ethic and focus has always been admirable. University years could have been spent home in Ireland dabbling in athletics while living the good life in Temple Bar or Reds but he decided the US would be best for his running. South Bend Illinois was the place, Notre Dame the University. 2 years there saw great improvement, then came another huge move which again showed his self belief and his ambition to make it to the top. Tom took a year out form college to train full time. He tried thing s that would benfit his running, altitude training stints, specific weights programs, warm weather training camps. He had a great year and returnedto finish his college degree.

College done moving into Olympic year was next. Thomas decided having run the B standard in '07 that a crack at the A and a ticket to Beijing was worth a go. While most class mates went to work, starting on 40 or 50,000 dollars he took to the roads, trails and fields to log the miles and chase his dream. 'Believe' was the motto for the year which he has portrayed on his website madra08 and believe he did.

Thomas best of luck from all the Crusaders. We can't wait to see you in live that dream in Beijing.

"Brilliant. So happy not just for him for his parents too" Michael McGovern

"Holy Sh1t. He mus t be Buzzing" Simon Kenny

"Thats Fantastic. tell him Congrats from us" Eugene & Catherine O'Neill

"Thats Fantastic, give him our best wishes. Josephine won't sleep for the next month" Susan Walsh

"Animal!!! Say Congrats" Alan O'Brien

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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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Dissapointment for Chammers in WSG

There was only disappointment for Thomas Chamney in the world Student Games in Bangkok. In the semi-final he finished in 4th (3 automatic qualifiers) having lead with 50m to go. He was only hundredths of a second outside a fastest losers spot. In his own words he feels 'fried' after a very long season including his last American varsity outdoors and probably more races than any other Irish athlete.

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