Men's relay team complete Irish squad

ATHLETICS:THE INCLUSION of a men's 400-metre relay team means Ireland will be represented by an impressive squad of 15 athletes at the World Indoor Championships, which open in Doha, Qatar, on Friday week. For a country still without a proper indoor running facility that's a fairly significant accomplishment it itself.

Included are two genuine medal contenders in David Gillick, two-time European Indoor champion over 400 metres, and Derval O’Rourke, who won the World Indoor title over the 60 metres hurdles in Moscow, four years ago.

The inclusion of the men’s relay team wasn’t expected, yet far from unjustified as six years ago, at the World Indoors in Budapest, the team won bronze medals; helped by the US dropping the baton.

Gillick was part of that team as was David McCarthy, who has qualified for Doha over 800 metres. With emerging junior Brian Gregan a qualifier in the 400 metres, sending a relay squad made sense. Nick Hogan, Brian Murphy, Billy Ryan, and Tim Crowe complete the selection.

“It’s is one of the largest teams we have sent to World Indoor championships,” says team manager Patsy McGonagle, “and includes athletes with real medal potential”.

Gillick has dropped to number four on the indoor world rankings, with his 45.52 seconds in Birmingham last month – his only race of the season. Bershawn Jackson won the US trials at the weekend in 45.41, while Granada’s Kirani James ran 45.24.

The world leader remains Torrin Lawrence with 45.03 – but he won’t be in Doha as he’s focusing on the US collegiate season.

O’Rourke underlined her medal winning ambitions with a season’s best in Floro, Norway, on Saturday – running a satisfying eight seconds flat, although a little short of Christina Vukecivic, who ran a Norwegian record of 7.94 seconds.

O’Rourke appears to have put her recent illness behind her, but she will need to improve, as the world-leader is Canadian Priscilla Lopes-Schliep with 7.82, and O’Rourke is only ranked equal 18th so far on the world season list.

However, eight of those ahead of her are Americans, and only two can run in Doha.

Deirdre Ryan was a late addition yesterday, in the high jump, having won the French Indoor championships on Saturday with a best of 1.90 metres – while she also held the Doha qualifier from last year with her Irish indoor record of 1.93 metres.

There is the full contingent of two women in both the 1,500 and 3,000 metres, with Rose-Anne Galligan joining Kelly McNeice in the former, and Deirdre Byrne and Hazel Murphy in the latter.

Irish Team

World Indoor Championships

(Doha, March 12th-14th)

Men– David Gillick (DSD AC) 400m; Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) 400m; David McCarthy (Le Cheile AC) 800m; 4x400m Relay: From: Gillick, McCarthy, Nick Hogan (DSD AC), Brian Murphy (UCC AC), Billy Ryan (Ferrybank AC), Tim Crowe (Dooneen AC).

Women– Claire Brady (Celbridge AC) 60m; Derval O'Rourke (Leevale AC) 60m Hurdles; Kelly McNeice (City of Lisburn) 1,500m; Rose-Anne Galligan (Newbridge AC) 1,500m; Deirdre Byrne (Slí Chulainn AC) 3,000m; Hazel Murphy (DSD AC) 3,000m; Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) Long Jump; Deirdre Ryan (DSD AC) High Jump.