ATHLETICS/European Indoor Championships: Athletics Ireland yesterday finalised a 16-strong team for this weekend's European Indoor Championships, which are set for the newly rebuilt Palacio de Deportes Comunidad in Madrid. It will be the highest Irish entry in the 28th edition of these championships, and includes at least two realistic medal contenders.
As expected, James Nolan is selected in the 1,500 metres on the basis of his 3:41.91 clocking during a pre-championship meeting in Madrid last Thursday night. That dipped under the 3:43.0 standard set by Athletics Ireland, although Nolan still seems a little short of the form which saw him win silver in the event five years ago.
Peter Coghlan is also a late addition to the team in the 60 metres hurdles. Although he, too, has displayed mixed form this season, winning a 55-metre hurdles event in Clemson University in the US on Saturday night sealed his trip to Madrid.
Alistair Cragg and Mark Carroll represent the best medal hopes, in the 3,000 metres, although David Gillick remains the third-fastest European over 400 metres this season.
Host nation Spain will represent the strongest challenge to those medal hopes. Reyes Estévez is better known as a 1,500 metres specialist, but he's a confirmed entry in the 3,000 metres and has the proven finishing speed to upset both Cragg and Carroll.
Joining Estevez is European steeplechase champion Antonio Jiménez, who won silver as part of a Spanish 1-2-3 in Vienna three years ago.
Britain's double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes last night pulled out of the event with a hamstring injury.
RTÉ will provide highlights on each evening of the three-day competition, starting on Friday at 8.30.
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