THERE WAS NO joy for Ireland’s track and field athletes on day four at the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki.
Paul Robinson of St. Cocoa’s AC missed out on a place in the 1500m men’s final after posting a time of 3.47.26, which left him over a second outside of making the final.
“I am disappointed,” he said afterwards.
“I didn’t come over here to make up the numbers. I lost my position with two laps to go and unfortunately that cost me. When the pace started to wind up I wasn’t able to get back to them. I have certainly learned a lot from this experience.”
In the women’s semi-finals of the 1500m, Ciara Mageean and Orla Drumm both finished 12th in their respective races, suffering the same fate as Robinson.
Mageean will have been particularly disappointed, having run a personal best of 4.07.45 last year. The City of Lisburn AC runner was with main pack until the bell, but did not have enough to mount a challenge as the race reached its climax.
Drumm ran a smart race but was edged out with just over one lap to go.
“I am disappointed with that, when the girls picked up the pace I just didn’t have the legs to go with them,” she said.
“It really shows that I need to work on my 400m speed in order to compete. At the start of the season the aim was to make these championships, but being here I wanted to make the final. I will race again in Sweden next week to try for the Olympic A standard.”
Later this evening, Stephanie Reilly runs in the 3000 metres steeplechase final, Mark Kenneally and David Rooney both compete in the 10,000m final, and Paul Hession is a finalist at 200m.
Irelands 4x400m men’s and women’s relay teams will also be hoping to book their places in tomorrow’s finals. The women’s team will look to improve their chances of qualifying for the London Olympics. They are currently ranked 12th based on their combined, two best performances. If they can improve on their second best time of 3.30.61, this will further cement their position for London.
