Lower marks for running and walking events

Athletics: The Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) has toughened the qualifying standards in certain events for this summer's European Championships in Munich.

The European Championships have single qualifying standards, unlike the Olympics and the World Championships with A and B standards. The AAI have lowered those necessary marks in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres (men and women) as well as the 20 kilometre and 50 kilometre walks for men.

To qualify for the Munich championships, which run from August 6th-11th, the men's 1,500 metres time has been dropped to three minutes 39 seconds (compared to the EAA mark of 3:41.0); the 5,000 metres time to 13:32.0 (from 13:40.0); and the 10,000 metres time to 28:20.0 (from 28:35.0).

Similar drops have been made in the women's standards: 4:11.0 for 1,500 metres (from 4:13.0); 15:30.0 for 5,000 metres (from 15:44.0); and 32:30.0 for 10,000 metres (from 33:20.0).

The men's walks have had their qualifying standards sharpened more significantly. The 20km walk now requires a time of one hour 25 minutes and 30 seconds (EAA mark is 1:28.0) and the 50km walk is 4:05.0 (4:20.0 is the EAA mark).

In addition, qualifying marks for most events must be achieved in competitions between January 1st, 2002 and July 26th, 2002, while the EAA's period starts from January 1st, 2001. The only AAI exceptions are the 10,000 metres, the marathon and the 50km walk where times from last season can count.

Ironically, the AAI have toughened their requirements in running events at a time when Irish standards are dropping. Mark Carroll was the only Irish athlete to achieve a 5,000 metres qualifying time last year (13:08.32) while the next best was Keith Kelly's 13:50.44. Similarly, Seamus Power would be the only athlete capable of securing the 10,000 metres mark of 28:20.0 based on his 28:18.38 last year.

The A standards for next summer's World Championships in Paris are even further out of reach for most Irish athletes and the AAI's intention is to bring the European requirements closer to those standards. Carroll was the only Irish male athlete to achieve an A standard in a distance event for Edmonton last summer

The European Indoor Championships, which take place in Vienna from March 1st-3rd, have less stringent qualifying standards. The AAI selectors will consider any athlete who has displayed reasonable form this season as well as judging their performance at the National Indoor Championships, which take place in Nenagh the weekend after next. The team for Vienna will be selected immediately after this event.