FOLLOWING some recent excellent performances, Gary Ryan of Nenagh has been given a chance to improve still further in the coming weeks after being named to compete over 100 and 200 metres in both Ljubljana on May 26th and Riga on June 2nd.
Indeed, Ryan will not be the only Irish athlete chasing Olympic standards with Terry McHugh, who is anxious to achieve the `A' standard of 80 metres in the javelin, also scheduled to compete in the same meetings.
Aisling Molloy, just back from a spell in South Africa, and Daniel Caulfield are named at 800 metres in the same squad.
Several athletes will make their international debuts when a full Irish squad competes in the Welsh Games in Cardiff on May 25th with Wales and an international selection providing the opposition. Derek O'Connor is given a further opportunity to complete his comeback when he partners James Nolan over 800 metres. The middle distances have a very experienced look about them with David Burke and John Downes named at 3,000 while Noel Cullen and Seamus Power will contest the 5,000 metres.
Freda Davoren and Geraldine Nolan, who fought a great duel down the home straight in Santry last Sunday with Davoren just getting the verdict, will again clash but this time over 1,500 metres. Michelle Carroll, who made her senior debut almost 20 years ago, gives further testimony to her powers of endurance.
For schoolgirls Fiona Norwood and Grainne Redmond the competitions offer them the opportunity to attempt to reach the World Junior qualifying standards over 400 and 100 metres hurdles respectively.
