Nolan aims to add his name to Millrose list

ATHLETICS: The small, wooden track at Madison Square Garden will tonight feel like a million miles away from the Athens Olympic Stadium, perfect for James Nolan to start a new chapter in his running career. What was said about him in Athens won't be easily forgotten, but Jerry Kiernan's infamous comment that Nolan was merely a dilettante of distance running is not something he's harbouring as extra motivation.

Instead Nolan is caught up in fresh targets, starting with the most celebrated event at tonight's Millrose games - the Wanamaker Mile.

For the first time in two years he's running injury free and with that he's drawn a line under his 1,500 metres experience in Athens.

"At the time I was obviously very annoyed with those comments," says the Offaly athlete. "I know I was running injured, and I would have thought Jerry Kiernan would have known better than to say what he did. But I know I did as well as I could to make the semi-finals out there."

Though Nolan and Kiernan haven't quite kissed and made up, at least the injury problems that hounded Nolan in Athens are totally healed. Since November he's been training in South Africa - better than ever, he says - with the chronic hamstring pain finally a thing of the past.

"I know I'm in my best shape in at least two years. So I'm looking forward to a good race at Millrose. And I know a good bit about running on that track. It's very tight, only 145 metres, and it's hard to get away from someone and harder to get past them. And Ireland has a great tradition of winners there, and I'd love to get my name on that list."

He's finished runner-up at Millrose twice before, once over 800 metres and more recently the mile. And though the eight runners in tonight's field are all capable of winning - especially the Kenyans Bernard Lagat and Laban Rotich - Nolan also points out that the last two editions of the Wanamaker mile have been won outside of four minutes.

Still, his main target for the indoor season is next month's European Championships in Madrid. A silver medallist five years ago, he's taking that event very seriously.

"I'm going there thinking about a medal, definitely. I have to run 3:43 to qualify, but even if I fall I know I can still get up and run that time."

His build-up includes an 800 metres in Sheffield next weekend, then a 1,500 metres in Birmingham, and finally a 1,000 metres in Lievin a week before Madrid.

Back at home, the National Indoor Championships will return to the Nenagh Indoor Arena this weekend.

For the past two years the championships have been staged in the plush surroundings of the Belfast's Odyssey Arena, but that's unavailable this year because of the Westlife concerts. So it's back to the dull, damp surroundings of Nenagh.

The competition should still be quite hot, especially in the sprint events.

Three Irish 400 metres runners now have the qualifying time for Madrid - David Gillick, David McCarthy and Rob Daly - but only two can go, and Sunday's result will help decide which two.

And finally, the 21st edition of the Raheny five-mile road race takes place this Sunday at 3 p.m., with all the former winners - including Jerry Kiernan - invited back to relive their glory. Entries will be accepted up until 2 p.m.