Places up for grabs

ATHLETICS: Considering temperatures in Moscow are hovering around minus 10 degrees at this time of year it's hard to imagine why any athlete would be interested in going there to race.

The simple explanation is that Moscow next month hosts the World Indoor Championships, where hot, stuffy arenas are the norm, and the final trials for which take place at this weekend's National Indoor Championships.

The championships make a welcome return to their adopted home at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, having being forced back to the antiquated confined of Nenagh last year because of a clash with a Boyzone concert.

Such a quality venue will at least ensure there are no excuses for the athletes still chasing qualifying times.

Athletics Ireland will finalise the team after Sunday's concluding events, less than three weeks before Moscow plays host to the world from March 10th to 12th.

Alistair Cragg, Ireland's only real medal hope, won't be travelling back from his US base to compete in Belfast. Despite dropping out of a 3,000 metres race last weekend he's still intent on racing in Moscow - and his selection is already a formality.

Among those still looking to book tickets to Moscow will be Ciara Sheehy and Emily Maher. Sheehy has made a fine return to form, winning the 200 metres at last weekend's British championships in 23.20 seconds - the second-fastest Irish time ever.

Unfortunately the 200 metres has been dropped from the world indoor programme so Sheehy is set to run the 400 metres this weekend, needing 53.50 seconds to qualify.

Maher has also shown some good form in recent weeks. She also won a British title, clocking 7.40 seconds when taking 60-metre gold. She needs 7.37 to get to Moscow.

Definitely Moscow bound is 60-metre hurdler Derval O'Rourke, who goes to Belfast fresh from her Irish record of 7.98 seconds - also set at the British championships in Sheffield.

Currently ranked 10th in the world, O'Rourke is aiming to break 7.90 before the season is out, and the presence in Belfast of Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica, the world championship silver medallist over 100-metres hurdles, who runs as a guest, will guarantee a fast time.

Alleyne Francique of Grenada, the world indoor champion over 400 metres, is also making a guest appearance in Belfast, but he won't be facing Ireland's David Gillick, as the European indoor champion is concentrating on the shorter distances and is down to run 60 and 200 metres this weekend, having run a best of 21.36 for the latter distance last weekend.

Another one-lapper, David McCarthy, has qualified for Moscow thanks to his 46.81 clocking last weekend. Joining him in the 400 metres will be Tomás Coman and Paul Brizzel.

Ailish McSweeney has already qualified in the 60 metres, as has James Nolan (1,500 metres) and Maria McCambridge (3,000 metres) but that won't lessen their desire to win national titles.