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Well it was a sweet Sunday afternoon yesterday not only was the sun out but the hardware was taken home by Crusaders for the first time in the National Road relays. For some it was a debut performance on the 1 mile loop in Raheny, for others it was a case of - so close so many times, maybe this year we can do it!!
Lead off was to none better than our Olympic 800m man Thomas Chamney or Chammers as we call him. He settled in nicely and came around in third spot looking like it was a jog. The leading two had a 50 or 60 meter gap. Away he went, disappearing into the second lap. Some 4minutes forty five and change later the officials roared at the 2nd leg runners to clear the way for the leaders... Raheny and Tallaght!! But as they neared it was actually Raheny and Chammers, The Cru. Someone must have spurred him on somewhere on that second lap. Raheny took over, maybe 5 seconds in front, I got the baton in 2nd.
As I turned the corner, I thought "focus on this Raheny back and DO NOT let him away, this is your chance", this year it's a medal. We've got as close as 4th before. So down the back side I raced, thinking only of that Raheny guys back... forget the crowd, forget the cars, ignore the pain… watch his back!! Although a slight gap was opening he was not getting anywhere too distant. At 1200 the screams from behind were getting loader, the tallaght man was closing, I had to dig deep. We rounded the last corner level, this 800 specialist was trying to kick the Euge out of it, Al, the new man on the scene was waiting, I had to get him on the shoulder of the next guy, we had to stay in touch. This young kicker as no match, I held on and passed level.
Al could tuck in and try to enjoy the ride for a lap or two. The 3 miler is a tough distance for anyone let alone a big man like Al who specialises in 8's and 15's. He has wintered so well, won National Novice, National indoor 1500 and dominated his first Irish cap over in Cardiff, Wales. He has trained and competed with club men all year, learned so much and tried to pass on what he has picked to others in the group. He has so many names now, TLac, A Lo, OBee, Big Al!! Well today he marched around those 3 circuits with that hardware in mind, he has been talking about this with team for a number of months now and no way was he about to let someone like the Claw (Mick Clohissey) from Raheny catch him. Incidently, to put Al's run in perspective, Mick has a 4th at National Cross, a 14.20 5k. He loves the distance, the longer the better, he had his sights on Al but Al's belief was too strong, he had his sights on medals.
The last leg fell to Gar, an experienced relay man at Raheny, having been involved many times before when we fell short. Having had what he described as a disaster at the 12K Cross, Gar has worked hard to get back to where he belongs. He was to prove a point. A steady first lap saw him open his gap from bronze to 4th spot by a few crucial seconds. He looked strong and composed, his mind was too set on that elusive road relay medal. NEVER did he look behind, showing his experience. He focused on his task of bringing it home. The last 500 meters were nerve racking as the Rathfarham man, Paul Fleming, and Clonliffe lad Eoin Pierse had closed in on Raheny B. The three were now moving through the gears and working together. The gap was closing to Gar and quickly, Fleming and Pierse were now full tilt and racing for that spot that Crusaders had guarded so well. He hit the corner, took one look around and that was it, the head was down, Gar hit those gears right up to the line to earn a National Medal!!!
Boys well done, it was nice!
From the 4 of us, to Rob who prepared during the week to step in when things were not looking good for everyone and of course to Mick, who managed everything so well to get us to the line in 4 good pieces. THANKS!"
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posted by Hugo Leeney @ 11:04 PM
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