Athletics:Respective World 100m hurdles and European Indoor 400m champions, Derval O'Rourke and David Gillick, lead a provisional Irish team announced by Athletics Ireland ahead of this year's World Championships in Osaka in Japan.
Also included in the squad is Ireland's fastest man in Galway's Paul Hession following his successful weekend at the National Championships in Santry. Hession won both the 100 and 200m setting a new Irish 200m record with a time of 20.30.
David Campbell guaranteed his place in Osaka with a historic double at Santry over the weekend, winning the 800 and 1500m. The last person to achieve this feat was Eamonn Coghlan 26 years ago.
Alistair Cragg was also named on the team after he produced a personal best time of 13.07.10 in the 5000m over the weekend. This means the Clonliffe runner is the fastest European over the distance this year and 12th in the world.
Eileen O'Keeffe, now ranked 13th in the world following her Irish record breaking win in the Hammer at Santry, is included on the team along with Joanne Cuddihy who will compete in the 400m and Mary Cullen who will race in the 5000m.
Wicklow's Fionnuala Britton will compete in the 3000m Steeplechase in Osaka along with fellow Sli Chualainn athlete Roisin McGettigan.
The team is completed by four race walkers with Robert Heffernan and Olive Loughnane both qualified for the 20k Walk, while Colin Griffin and Jamie Costin will compete in the 50k Walk.
Patsy McGonagle, Irish Team Manager, has left the door open to
other athletes to make the team. "This is the initial draft
of the team for Osaka, we will be monitoring several athletes form
and results over the coming weeks, so we may well see more names
added to this list before we
head off to the World Championships."
Max Clifford, Director of Athletics for Athletics Ireland, is expecting some top class performances from the team. "This is a small, select team that is quite strong and it can be more competitive at a world level than Ireland has been for several years. We have athletes who can challenge to get into finals in Osaka with the focus of the Bejing Olympics being only one year away. I am looking forward to some world class performances from an exciting Irish team."
The World Championships take place in Osaka from August 25th to September 2nd.
Irish Team (Provisional)
100m H — Derval O'Rourke — Leevale A.C.
5000m/10000m — Alistair Cragg — Clonliffe
Harriers
3000SC — Roisin McGettigan — Sli Chualainn A.C.
400m — Joanne Cuddihy — Kilkenny City Harriers
100m/200m — Paul Hession — Athenry A.C.
400m — David Gillick — Dundrum South Dublin A.C.
20K Walk — Robert Heffernan — Togher A.C.
20K Walk — Olive Loughnane — Loughrea A.C.
50K Walk — Colin Griffin — Ballinamore A.C.
50k Walk — Jamie Costin — West Waterford A.C.
3,000m S/C — Fionnuala Britton — Sli Chualainn
A.C.
Hammer — Eileen O'Keeffe — Kilkenny City Harriers
5000m — Mary Cullen — North Sligo A.C.
800m — David Campbell — St. Coca's