AAI may bow to Kiernan's wishes

ATHLETICS: Athletics Ireland (AAI) are prepared to review their selection policy to allow team management to have an input in determining national teams for major athletic events. This follows the critical comments made by Jerry Kiernan, Irish team manager, at the weekend's World Cross Country Championships in Dublin.

Yesterday Kiernan reiterated his view that management must be given some power in team selection - otherwise he would see no reason to remain in the position. Currently, the AAI selection committee, of which Kiernan is not a member, has total power in deciding teams for all athletic competitions.

According to Christy Wall, the AAI international secretary and also event director of the World Cross Country Championships in Dublin, that situation is now likely to come under review, although any change would have to come before the association's congress, which takes place in Dublin next month.

"Jerry has put out the idea and of course the association will look at it," said Wall. "But it is a new idea, and a situation like that would have to be approved by a motion at congress. And that's the normal way that things progress.

"And if there is a feeling that the situation has to be changed for the better then the association has to be prepared to go with it."

Kiernan was quick to criticise the AAI selection policy at the conclusion of the Cross Country Championships on Sunday, despite the fact that the women's team had just won bronze medals. Only one point separated Ireland from the Russians in fourth place, and Kiernan felt the Irish team had been weakened by the absence of Breda Dennehy-Willis, who was controversially left out of the team a fortnight ago.

"Right now the selection process is definitely questionable," said Kiernan.

"The same committee selects teams for all events, track and field and cross country. There are a few people on the committee whose expertise would lie elsewhere, and the least we should have is a different committee for cross country teams.

"I know one or two of the athletes were disappointed at what I'd said after the race. But I'm only interested in the running and not the politics, and putting out the best teams possible so that Irish athletics can benefit the most.

"When you know we were so tantalisingly close to losing the bronze medal, you have to make sure from now on that we have the best possible teams out there. It was a fantastic achievement, considering only two European nations managed to get the team medals, and Irish athletics needs days like that. It would have been very different if we had lost out on a medal."

Kiernan is still enthusiastic to return for a third year as manager, along with coaches Peter McDermott, Jim Davis and Teresa McDaid, but only if the management is given the necessary power.

"It has been a great two years, working with a great group of people. But the position needs to be invested with more power so that the job has some real meaning," added Kiernan.

From an Irish point of view, the success of the World Championships in Dublin was not based solely on the women's team bronze medals. The IAAF has given strong words of approval for the organisation of the event, and the AAI are confident the event was completed within their budget.

"We're actually still waiting on the final attendance figure, gate receipts and things like that, but I'm confident that the association will at least break even," said Wall.

"The IAAF also said that the atmosphere was as good as any they've ever witnessed for the World Cross Country. There were a lot of other pluses about the weekend. I spoke to people abroad and they were very happy with how it looked on TV, and all the volunteers made a great effort as well."

Sonia O'Sullivan, meanwhile, will continue her rapid return to the highest level of world athletics on Saturday when she runs the Balmoral five-mile road race in Scotland. Among the expected opposition is Romanian rival Gabriela Szabo.