McCarthy takes the honours

ATHLETICS/Irish Schools' championships:Rarely has the Irish Schools' championships turned out two such gifted athletes in the one event. Although another sweeping showcase for seemingly endless talent, Saturday in Tullamore was always going to boil down to David McCarthy against John Coghlan in the senior boys' 1,500 metres.

Clearly they both have what it takes to succeed on the international stage: stylish and deadly competitive on the track, modest and courteous off it. Just as important perhaps, they both look the part: masterpieces of DNA.

That McCarthy proved victorious on the day hardly mattered because here are two athletes with an equally exciting future.

The race was, in fact, decided at halfway when McCarthy eased away from Coghlan, eventually winning by some 25 metres in 3:52.27 - a superb solo effort given the unseasonable wind and damp.

The 18-year-old from St Augustine's in Dungarvan thus completes what has been the perfect schools career, winning titles in every grade and over a range of distances from 400 metres to cross-country.

Later this summer he'll follow the US scholarship route and take up residence at Providence College, Rhode Island, where he'll come under the coaching of another Waterford native, Ray Treacy, brother of the Olympic silver medallist John.

"I've been training hard, knew I had the strength to take it out," said McCarthy. "There was no point in sitting around and leaving it to a kick. I felt very comfortable and the next big goal is the European Juniors in July. Of course I've got my Leaving Cert to worry about first."

Coghlan couldn't quite match his strengths on the day, losing touch when McCarthy led through 800 metres in 1:59, but he too ran a gutsy race.

Coming into the home stretch, he was passed by Ian Ward and looked destined for third, but he counter-kicked and salvaged silver in 3:56.00, Ward taking the bronze medal with 3:56.54.

Unlike McCarthy, the Castleknock student is unsure of his immediate athletics future, still undecided between Dublin City University and a US scholarship.

Present in Tullamore to tempt him into the latter was the former world indoor champion Marcus O'Sullivan, now head coach at Villanova and eager for Coghlan to enrol at the alma mater of his illustrious father, Eamonn.

Saturday was a particularly good day for Waterford runners, as two of McCarthy's training buddies also underlined their potential. Niall Tuohy of Newtown School was a class apart in the senior 800 metres, winning in a personal best of 1:53.24, and at junior level De La Salle's Shane Quinn - son of the Irish steeplechase record holder, Brendan - provided one of the few records.

Having been outkicked in the 800 metres by Downshire's Curtis Woods (who, incredibly, had won the 200 metres just 30 minutes earlier), Quinn, who has just turned 15, responded with a stunning 4:08.87 solo run to win the 1,500 metres, eclipsing the 16-year-old junior record, 4:09.08.

Yet the record-breaker of the day was surely Charlotte Ffrench O'Carroll of Loreto Stephen's Green, who walked away with the senior 3,000 metres in 9:43.02 - smashing the 9:51.53 that stood to Patricia Logan since 1985.

Charlotte's twin Rebecca duly won the 1,500 metres in 4:39.99, ahead of her training partner Sarah Huet, who had earlier won the 800 metres.

Waterford also did well in the field events as Kelly Proper took the senior long jump in a record 6.20 metres.

There was a classy record too for Noel Collins of Drumragh with his 4:18.30 in the intermediate 1,500-metre steeplechase.

The strong wind virtually ruled out records in the sprints, but that did not bother Chris Russell of Waterpark and Sharon Kilduff of St Louis, Kiltimagh - winners of the senior 100 metres - as they become the fastest students in Ireland.

There were sprint doubles for Joan Healy at junior level and Niamh Whelan at intermediate.

Ireland's changing demography was reflected when Polish-born Pavel Hazler of Bishopstown won the senior discus and hammer, while the intermediate high jump, which proved very competitive, ended with Gormanston's Kourosh Foroughi - who's father is Iranian - clearing two metres for the victory.