More than local pride at stake

ATHLETICS/National Track and Field Championships: It won't matter a whole lot that most of the headline acts at the weekend's national track and field championships are likely to win without much fuss. It's only a slight exaggeration to suggest Derval O'Rourke could probably win the 100-metres hurdles blindfolded, while David Gillick and Alistair Cragg look a class apart in the 400 and 1,500 metres respectively.

But there's a lot more at stake than just the national title. For the 39 Irish athletes qualified for the European championships in Gothenburg in just a fortnight's time this is the last chance to impress the selectors.

Athletics Ireland, to their credit, are intent on sending as many athletes as possible, but a poor performance in Santry over the next two days won't help the chances of those qualified when the team is finalised on Sunday evening.

Unfortunately, some of those athletes are already set to miss out on Gothenburg, including Sonia O'Sullivan, who has skipped the season entirely, as well as the injured Maria McCambridge (1,500 metres) and Ciarán McDonagh (long jump).

For the rest, however, Gothenburg is definitely the place to be, where, unlike the world championships, progress to the finals is a real possibility.

For O'Rourke, the European ambitions are already clear - and mean building on her World Indoor success over the 60-metre hurdles in March.

She hasn't quite hit the sort of form that suggests she'll be a definite medal contender, yet she is going in the right direction, and her newly improved Irish record of 12.92 seconds could be improved further given the favourable conditions - and that would be the perfect send off for Gothenburg.

O'Rourke ran a wind-aided 12.95 to win last year, then came within a whisker of winning the 100 metres flat.

Collecting her fifth title here is a formality, however, as the depth in the hurdles event is alarmingly poor.

Irish 400-metre running has a lot more depth, although that won't quite be reflected in Santry. Gillick is strong favourite to collect his first outdoor title - having missed last year with injury, and taken bronze in 2004 and silver in 2003 - assuming he comes close to his season's best of 45.80 seconds.

Belfast's Paul McKee, still the national record holder with his 45.58 from four years back, is gradually regaining his best form and will certainly push Gillick, although the other contenders don't appear to enter the equation.

Rob Daly is injured, David McCarthy is struggling with form, and defending champion Tomás Coman hasn't raced yet this year.

The women's 400 metres had promised a classic head-to-head between Karen Shinkins and Joanne Cuddihy.

Shinkins, the former European Indoor medallist, should have been chasing her 10th successive title, but had to withdraw yesterday with a leg injury.

That should clear the way for Cuddihy to claim her first national title. The 22-year-old from Kilkenny, ran her best of 51.63 this year.

So to Cragg, who remains Ireland's best hope for a medal in Gothenburg.

His 13:08.97 for 5,000 metres run in New York last month is still the fastest by a European this summer, though in Santry he's looking to sharpen his form by running the 1,500 metres. He won this title easy enough in 3:44.37 two years ago, and while emerging talents such as Liam Reale, Mark Christie and David McCarthy will ensure a competitive race, none of them are likely match Cragg's finishing speed.

James Nolan is down to run the 800 metres, but his participation is in some doubt because of illness, although he wouldn't have it all his own way anyway with Thomas Chamney and David Campbell - both qualified for the Europeans - toeing the line.

Elsewhere, among the other Gothenburg-bound athletes certain to claim national titles by significant margins are Eileen O'Keeffe (hammer), Michelle Carey (400-metre hurdles) and Deirdre Ryan (high jump).

The action gets underway today from 1pm, while tomorrow's finals are due to commence at 1.15pm.