All distance runners know the rule that without a one-stride lead you cannot cut in front of each other. All distance runners know that rule because it is generally honoured by being breached – that it’s actually every runner for himself, and especially in a championship final.
All distance runners know the rule about racing through the finish line, not just to it. All distance runners know that rule because at least then there can be no regrets.
Not that either of those rules applied any immediate consolation to Ciarán Ó Lionáird and Paul Robinson after their European Championship 1,500m final. Ó Lionáird looked justifiably shell shocked after being taken out by another runner, about 600m from home and Robinson could make even less sense of it all after he was run out of the bronze medal position, despite racing right through the finish line.
Only .17 of a second separated Robinson from the bronze medal won by Britain's Chris O'Hare, in 3:46.18 and for a brief while Robinson actually held third, having passed the German Homiyu Tesfaye: by then, Mahiedene Mekhissi-Benabaad from France had already struck gold, in 3:45.60, the man disqualified after winning the 3,000m final earlier in the week for ripping off his running vest before the finish.
“It was probably a great race to watch, from a spectator point of view,” said Robinson, and indeed another three runners fell, just before bell. “My tactic was stay on the inside rail as long as I could, stay out of trouble, and really feel I did everything right. It was only in those last 30m, when I had it, then it got taken away from me. And I’m absolutely gutted.
“And I knew I was in third, but I could sense too my legs were buckling, and I was doing everything I could to get to the line as quick as I could. It’s a blur, really, but I just didn’t have it.”
At just 22, and already finishing fourth at the European under-23 Championships last summer, the Kildare athlete at least found some consolation in the fact his graph of improvement is still rising steadily.
“I know I beat some good people here as well. Chris O’Hare is a phenomenal athlete. Hopefully it will all stand to me. I’ve a few races to come this season, and definitely want to try for that Irish record now before the season is out,” he said.
For Ó Lionáird there wasn’t a whole lot to say after his race ended coming around the top bend for the penultimate time, a victim of the rampaging adrenaline and the flashing of elbows and spikes that always comes with championship 1,500m, especially when they’re slow like this.
“I actually got stood on first, on the backstretch and then twice, badly, with just under 600m to go,” he said. “I felt that on my right hamstring, and then someone stood on my left tendon. Instantly, my hamstring pulled. I was completely thrown off kilter and there’s no way I could go on.
“I felt really good out, that I was getting right back to where I needed to be
and that I made all the right decisions in the race, staying off the inside rail. I did everything I needed to do, and so I do feel hard done by. But that’s the nature of sport and that’s championship racing, and I’m sure I can only be better from the experience.
“Once I got stood on the second time, all my momentum was gone. I’m not angry myself, more disappointed. I can’t blame anyone. It’s just when it happens in a final there’s nowhere else to go. I can’t run a 1,500m again on my own, tonight, and see how fast I go.”
Nor did the Cork athlete have any complaints about the winner, either, despite the fact Benabbad’s victory was greeted with muted acclaim.
“I wanted to put myself up front, especially the slower it went. I was confident of making a drive, 450m out, similar to [what] Benabbad did and I honestly thought if I was there with him today I would have got a medal.
“Because that was [the] plan, to go at 450m. I’d simulated that at training, and ran like a 48.5, for 400m. But again, there’s no point talking like that. I’m coming away with nothing. That’s ifs and buts and that’s no good to me or you right now. I didn’t finish the race and the result tomorrow and in 10 years will still be the same, a DNF next to my name.
“And good luck to Benabbad. He was disqualified earlier this week, could have let all that get to him but he was best man on the day. And I’ve no problem with that at all.”
