Athletics News: Irish athletics enjoyed an excellent weekend in Europe, with the men's team earning promotion from division two of their European Cup group, while the women's team did more than enough to retain their division one status for another year.
The women, competing in Prague, finished fourth overall in the first league Group A, competing against Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Latvia and Switzerland. In the final event yesterday, the 400-metre relay, the Irish women took second place and lowered the national record in the process with a time of 3:31.51.
The quartet of Michelle Carey, Elaine McCaffrey, Ciara Sheehy, Joanne Cuddihy ran magnificently to easily break the old record of 3.32.24, set in Sydney Olympics 2000. This performance also ensures their inclusion for the forthcoming European Championships in Gothenburg.
Others helping the team retain their division one status were Ciara Sheehy (third in the 200 metres in 23.58), Aoife Byrne (fourth in 1,500 metes in 4.14.08), Deirdre Ryan (fourth in the high jump with 1.89) and Eileen O'Keeffe (third in the hammer with 65.35). Belarus topped the group with 122.5 points, ahead of Italy (116), the Czech Republic (102) and then Ireland (86).
On Saturday, Joanne Cuddihy from Kilkenny provided the highlight when clocking a lifetime best time of 51.63 seconds by finishing a close second in the 400 metres. Fionnuala Britton also took second in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, her time of 9:56.03 another personal best and again inside the European Championship standard.
The Irish men needed victories in the last two events of their European Cup Division Two, staged in Banska Bystrica in Slovakia. It was close in the end, but the Irish sneaked promotion with the hosts Slovakia out in front with 129.5 points and Ireland second with 129 points, with Israel and Denmark one point behind with 128 each.
It was the 3,000 metres victory of Mark Kenneally and the 400-metre relay wins of Brian Murphy, Antoine Burke, Paul McKee and David Gillick that clinched it. Other highlights there saw Burke also win the 400 metres hurdles, and Gillick showing his class to win the 400 metres in 46.49 seconds. Paul Brizzel also took the 100 metres in 10.68 and David Campbell showed exceptional finishing speed to take a tactical 1,500 metres in 3:49.71
