Going on existing six nations form or any previous result it’s impossible to predict, simply because there isn’t any. What is at least certain is that Saturday’s end result will come down to the wire.
Designed in the main to appeal to the younger and perhaps more casual viewer, the first six nations international match in the Dynamic New Athletics format, otherwise known as DNA, takes place at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, the format itself largely unfamiliar even to those taking part.
Created by the European Athletics Association as an “innovative, team-based competition concept for athletics, to complement the classical athletics format”, the DNA model was first trialled at the European Games in Minsk, back in 2019.
A few tweaks later, Glasgow will host the first six nations international match involving Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Spain and Portugal. While not quite national A teams, each country has a sprinkling of Olympians from the Tokyo Games last summer, though many will be making their international debuts.
Staged across 11 events, in a neat two-hour time window with only one event at a time, each country enters 18 athletes, nine men and nine women, placing greater emphasis on the element of team strategy and tactics, highlighting the role of the team captains and the importance of team spirit.
According to European Athletics, “the aim of the DNA project is to bring the sport into the 21st Century, enhancing it with a new dimension targeting younger audience and participant groups.
“DNA integrates modified rules, presentational possibilities and digital communications elements that can be adapted for every level of the competition pyramid while remaining true to the essence of athletics.”
After 10 events of running, jumping and throwing, where all finishing positions count (12 points for first, down to two points for sixth), the DNA end result is decided on the final event known as The Hunt, a medley relay of 800m-600m-400m-200m, with two men and two women per country. Based off a staggered start on the points collected in the previous 10 events, each point difference between the teams in the team standing translates into 0.33 seconds of distance gap for the start of The Hunt.
It’s effectively winner takes all, the first team home crowned Dynamic New Athletics Indoor Champions 2022. The Irish quartet will be Alanna Lally, Roland Surlis, Roisin Harrison and Eanna Madden.
There will also be a mixed 4x400m relay, the Irish quartet here including Cillin Greene, who was part of the quartet that made the Olympic final in Tokyo last summer. Among the few individual events is the 60m, the Irish entry here featuring Molly Scott, the Carlow athlete who last Sunday in Athlone lowered the Irish record to 7.23 seconds, with the promise of more swift improvement.
Scott ran a time of 7.27 earlier in the day, to become a joint holder of the record with Amy Foster, before improving that to 7.23, now Ireland fastest women indoors. In the men’s 60m, Israel Olatunde is also the athlete in form, the UCD student recently improving the Irish Under-23 record to 6.64 seconds, within touching distance of the Irish senior record of 6.61, set by Paul Hession in 2007.
Great Britain’s Olympic Games 1,500m silver medallist Laura Muir, representing Scotland, drops down to the 800m, and will be one of the host nation’s best bets for maximum points in the events that proceed The Hunt.
There is also greater emphasis on event presentation, through the integration of multiple video screens, music, lights and spectator engagement activities. It’s also envisaged the DNA format can be rolled out at school and club level, the fewer athletes per team making it possible for larger clubs and schools to field multiple teams, and smaller clubs and schools to be competitive. The event is streamed live on the European Athletics website.
Irish Team, Dynamic New Athletics, Glasgow, February 5th
Women's 60m: Molly Scott
Men's 60m: Israel Olatunde
Women's 60m: Hurdles Kate Doherty
Men's 60M: Hurdles Gerard O'Donnell
Women's 800m: Louise Shanahan
Women's Long Jump: Ruby Millet
Men's High Jump: Ciaran Connolly
Men's Shot Put: James Kelly
Mixed 4x400m: Catherine McManus
Mixed 4x400m: Rachel McCann
Mixed 4x400m: Cillin Greene
Mixed 4x400m: Robert McDonnell
Hunt Relay 800m: Alanna Lally
Hunt Relay 600m: Roland Surlis
Hunt Relay - 400m: Roisin Harrison
Hunt Relay - 200m: Eanna Madden
Mixed 2x2x200m: Sarah McCarthy
Mixed 2x2x200m: Mark Smyth
