Sebastian Coe always said all athletes are one hamstring tear away from oblivion. In an event like the 400 metres hurdles that’s especially true, which is why Thomas Barr had reason to fear his summer could be over before it properly heated up.
Just over two weeks ago, during the last hard training block before next month’s World Championships in London, Barr was in full stride – in fact in over stride – when pop went the weasel: he hoped for the best, thinking it was only a cramp, then discovered he was lucky not to be fearing for the worst.
“All good, as of now,” explains Barr, back in training in perfect timing for this weekend’s Irish Life Health National Championships at Santry – and more importantly those World Championships in London, which begin on Friday, August 4th.
“It was a combination of a few things, really. Pushing myself a bit too hard, yes. I’d just come back from European Team champs, having run three races in three days. And I’d tailwind behind me, so was probably over-striding a little bit, and just felt a tweak.
Symptom free
“I actually thought it was a cramp, at first. But the next day it was still sore, so I went for the MRI straightaway and it showed a minor grade one. So thankfully nothing major. I’m symptom free, after the two weeks, and I had a really good winter behind me, so I’m not overly worried about fitness.
“And I’m back on track, one week of good training just done, and another two weeks before London. Once I’m fit and healthy I’ll be fine. It’s just about sharpening up. Although I am glad I got my qualifying time out of the way good and early. Even though I was injured, it wasn’t a race against time to get back.”
After his fourth place heroics at the Rio Olympics last summer – and remember, his 47.97 seconds was just .05 short of bronze – Barr represents Ireland’s chief (in not only) medal hope in London. At the same time it feels like his event has kicked on in 2017, the world-leading 47.80 seconds run by 20 year-old Kyron McMaster from the Virgin Islands, while 21 year-old Norwegian Karsten Warholm has also emerged from the proverbial nowhere to run 48.25.
Barr’s best this season is the 48.95 he ran in Oslo in June, before the injury, and 25 men have so far run faster in 2017: not all of them will be in London, yet considerable improvement will be required if Barr is to make the final – before he even thinks about a medal.
Three extraordinary performances
Just like last summer, actually. Because his pre-Olympic training was ravaged by some 12 weeks of injury, yet still he came out in Rio and produced three extraordinary performances, one after the other, especially in the final. His 47.97 would have won bronze in London 2012, and silver at each of the previous two Olympics before that.
“Exactly. I have come back before, with fresh legs, not raced to death. And it came together nicely. So I know how to deal with it, mentally. I’m not panicking, and that’s the main thing.
“But yeah, 400m hurdling is probably at the strongest point it’s been for a long time. And it’s great to be a part of a sort of resurgence in the 400m hurdles, with such strong fields, being brought up to that level. And I thought I was a young gun, until this year. Now I’m looking at date of births and see 1996, 1997 . . .
“Of course, and a part of me doubts will I ever be able to replicate three rounds like that, and get down to 47 seconds. I know I need to get more consistent like that. But I know I’m already ahead of last year, on 300m times in training.
“There is the expectation as well. But I kind of relish that, having a bit of status in the event. That’s something I’ve been working towards for years. I’ve been doing athletics since I was eight years old, and you relish that status.”
Barr is going for his seventh consecutive national title on Sunday: RTÉ 2 are live from 6-8pm, and will include his final at 6.05pm.
