Santry has final say on Paris

ATHLETICS: Athletics Ireland has confirmed that this weekend's National Championships in Santry will be the last gauge for selection for the World Championships - and that guarantees at least two classic head-to-heads for the right to compete with the world's best in Paris later this month.

Under IAAF rules only one "B-standard" athlete per nation can compete in any championship event. Currently both James Nolan and Gareth Turnbull have that necessary time over 1,500 metres, as do Gary Ryan and Paul Brizzel over 200 metres, and so the one first past the post in those events this weekend also gets the place in the Irish team for Paris.

There is the possibility too that selection for the men's 400 metres will be decided this weekend. Paul McKee, the World Indoor bronze medallist from earlier this year, is so far the only one with the B standard, but David McCarthy is close on his heels and if he is first home in Santry, and gets the necessary time, then he goes to Paris.

The first of those selection questions will be answered today in the final of the men's 200 metres (4 pm). To add spice, both Ryan and Brizzel have run exactly the same time this season - 20.72 seconds. Ryan has looked marginally more impressive in their duels so far this summer, but Brizzel, as Irish record holder, will not be readily denied.

It should be close too in the 1,500 metres, the final of which is set for 1.10 tomorrow. Turnbull has at last rediscovered his best form after some three years of injury problems, and was first to run the qualifying time with his three minutes 36.60 seconds in Germany last month. Nolan has been slower to find his stride but last weekend in Belgium he ran 3:35.69, a personal best for the Offalyman and the sort of time he has promised for several years.

As a former 800-metre specialist, Nolan might be expected to have too much speed for Turnbull, whose apparent bulk might also seem limiting. Yet Turnbull has also won the 800 metres in the past, and his basic speed continues to defy expectations. The likelihood is that Nolan will try to run away from Turnbull, but if it comes down the home stretch the Belfastman has every chance.

There should be little debate about the remaining places on the Irish team for Paris, which will be announced at the conclusion of the championship tomorrow. Sonia O'Sullivan has yet to confirm whether she will run the 5,000 metres or 1,500 metres tomorrow. She has declared her intention of running the 5,000 metres in Paris (she has the A standard), though she has yet to clock a world-class time and was beaten last night in London, her first high-quality race at the distance. But then it wouldn't be the first time she tackled a major championship with question marks about her form.

Cathal Lombard drops down to 5,000 metres in Santry, the distance in which he recorded a breakthrough time of 13:19.22 last weekend - though he will run the 10,000 metres in Paris - and should garner a first title.

Unlike in previous years, Sunday's schedule will start in the morning with the heats of the 100 metres (11.15) and conclude at 2.30, primarily to allow for the hour of live television on RTÉ (1 p.m. to 2 p.m.). With new sponsors too in Woodies DIY, it has the makings of the best championships in several years

QUALIFIERS FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Paris, August 23rd-31st)

A Standard: Men: 5,000m C Lombard 13.19.22; 110mH P Coghlan 13:52; Marathon M Carroll 2:10.54 (Recovering from injury and unavailable); 20k walk R Heffernan 1:20:25; 50k walk J Costin 3:53:58; Women: 5,000m and 10,000m S O'Sullivan 14:46.97 and 30:47.59; 100mH D O'Rourke 12.96; 20k walk G O'Sullivan 1:27:22, O Loughnane 1:30:29. B Standard: Men: 200m P Brizzel 20.72. G Ryan 20.72; 400m P McKee 45.58; 1,500m J Nolan 3:35.69, G Turnbull 3:36.60; 10,000m C Lombard 28:05.27; 20k walk Costin 1:22:45; 50k walk J Cassin 4:01:01; Women: 400m K Shinkins 51.48; 10,000m M Davenport 31:59.29; Marathon S O'Sullivan 2:32:06.