Athletics:Athletics Ireland today named a 13-strong team to compete at the European Indoor Championships which take place in Birmingham this weekend.
David Gillick and Alastair Cragg, both European Indoor Champions from 2005, head up the Irish team, but Ireland's darling of the track, Derval O'Rourke, is absent as the Cork Athlete opted to concentrate on the outdoor season.
Gillick took gold in the 400metres in Madrid two years ago and has recovered from a bout of flu which kept him away from the Irish Indoors at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast last week. Cragg secured gold in the 3000m in Madrid in 2005.
Also included in the squad is sprinter Paul Hession, who recently broke the Irish 60m record.
Liam Hennessy, Chair of the High Performance Committee, has high
hopes for the Irish team ahead of this weekend's action.
"Our record of success at the European Indoor Championships
has been significant," said Hennessy. "One of the great occasions
in the recent history of the sport was the glorious Saturday night
in Madrid at these championships two years ago when David Gillick
and Alistair Cragg won gold medals in the 400 and 3000 metres
respectively.
"We know that to succeed at this level is a formidable achievement, nevertheless we are delighted to be announcing an impressive team list here today and we look forward with anticipation to some high-level results in Birmingham this weekend."
Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle also had reason to feel confident. "There is a buzz around the Irish team these days and Birmingham provides the opportunity for this successful period in Irish Athletics to continue.
"We have enjoyed marvellous moments in European indoor competitions with names like O'Sullivan, Coghlan, Shinkins, Kyle, Nolan, Carroll, Purcell, Flynn and Murphy, all impacting in a major way and bringing us bang up to date with the fantastic results of Madrid two years ago down to David Gillick and Alastair Cragg," added McGonagle.
"Team Ireland approach these championships targeting medals, national records indeed in certain cases focusing on making a final."
The championships take place from Friday, March 2nd-4th.
Irish Team:
Anna Boyle (Ballymena and Antrim)
Mark Carroll (Leevale)
Thomas Chamney (Crusaders AC)
Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers)
Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe AC)
Mary Cullen (North Sligo)
David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin)
Paul Hession (Athenry AC)
David McCarthy (Le Cheile AC)
James Nolan (UCD)
Liam Reale (Limerick AC)
Deirdre Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin)
Gareth Turnbull (St. Malachy's)