THE SMALL crowd in attendance at this West Athletic Games - a meeting for emerging countries - at the Morton Stadium, Santry, yesterday, was severely outnumbered by athletes from a dozen countries.
Arguably the best Irish performance came from Susan Smith in `the women's 400 metres hurdles. The 24-year-old Waterford runner returned home from her working and training base in Atlanta to break the national record. Amazingly, Smith's 56.14 seconds was the precise Olympic A qualifying standard.
Olivia Kelliher, from Killarney, completed a tremendous 24 hours, breaking the women's hammer record for the fourth time. At Belfield on Saturday she broke the record three times, going over 50 metres for the first occasion. Yesterday, her third-round 52.16 metres became the new mark. Unfortunately, the women's hammer will only become part of major competition at the European Championships in 1998.
In the men's 800 metres, James Nolan (18), who is on a UCD scholarship, was extremely impressive in winning in 1.48.80 and must be a serious medal contender for August's World Junior Championships in Sydney.
In the same event, 1,500 metres world championship finalist Niall Bruton trailed in a disappointing ninth in 1.51.93. Carlow man T J Kearns strained a groin muscle on his way to 13.90 in the 110 metres hurdles. This was only good enough for second place behind Robin Korving from the Netherlands. Another Dutchman, Chris Tamminga, cleared 5.50 metres in the pole vault to claim the Olympic B qualifying standard.
In the men's javelin, leading Irish thrower Terry McHugh pulled out of the event due to a shoulder injury.
Both running out of Nenagh, Niall and Garry Ryan, who are not related, continued their tantalising struggle to break Derek O'Connor's 10.61 seconds Irish 100 metres record. Both have bettered this time, but their recent good efforts have yet to be ratified.
Nonetheless, the relative weakness of Irish sprinting was put into perspective when they could only finish fourth and fifth respectively in the 100 metres yesterday.
