Future stars put their credentials on line in Tullamore

Athletics News: When it comes to restoring all faith in the sport of athletics there is still no event like the Irish Schools' Championships. Tomorrow in Tullamore, the annual showcase for aspiring athletes will reveal yet again that the country is still spoiled for potential. Now if only that potential could be nurtured a little better.

The schedule of nine hours of non-stop running, jumping and throwing across 104 events also provides a preview of the potential future stars. What makes tomorrow's championships particularly special is that Sonia O'Sullivan will present some medals, her first time back at the event since marking her own arrival 19 years ago by winning the senior girls' 800 metres.

Somewhere in the mass of athletes competing tomorrow could be the next O'Sullivan. Some have already made a name for themselves, like Sarah Treacy of the King's Hospital, the strong favourite for the senior girls 1,500 metres and who apparently has never lost a race at schools' level.

The senior boys' version of that race includes a certain John Coghlan of Castleknock College, son of famous father Eamonn, who is out to beat his Leinster rival Daire Bermingham of Sutton Park. Ciarán O'Lionard of DLS Macroom is another contender there although is hampered by a back injury.

David McCarthy of St Augustine's, Dungarvan, is one of the most exciting prospects in years, and should challenge the senior boys' 800 metres record.

But just getting this far is something, with around 16,000 athletes starting out in the various regional championships. Like the US Olympic trials, it doesn't matter who you are, you still need to finish in the top two or three in your event, depending on the distance, to make it to the main show.

The quest to qualify for the European Championships in Gothenburg in August also continues at the weekend, with Alistair Cragg searching for the 5,000 metres standard of 13:42.0 when he lines up in Randall's Island, New York, tomorrow night at the Reebok Grand Prix. Cragg faces a strong field that includes Kenyan Benjamin Limo, and the qualifying time should be a formality. Also running in New York are Roisín McGettigan (1,500 metres) and Marie Davenport (5,000 metres) who have already qualified for Gothenburg.

David Gillick will finally open his outdoor season with a 400 metres at the Zaragosa meeting in Spain, having withdrawn from the AAI Games two weeks ago because of the bad weather. Deirdre Ryan competes in the high jump. At the Bislett Games in Oslo tonight, James Nolan (1,500 metres) and Karen Shinkins (400 metres) go in the first Golden League meeting of the summer, and while both already have the standards for the Europeans, they'll still have one eye on the clock as they start their countdown to Gothenburg.

The following athletes have been selected for the AAI representative team in Bratislava on June 14th: P Hession (100m and 200m); D Ryan (high jump); C Sheehy (200m and relay); A McSweeney (100m and relay); A Boyle (200m and relay); P McKee (400m); A Byrne (800m); E Maher (relay); J Cuddihy (200m); B Murphy (400m); A Burke (400m hurdles).