With indecent haste almost the national track & field championships arrive on our doorstep this weekend.
The reason for its early date of course is the proximity of the now almost certain to proceed Olympic Games and the facilitation of our prospective contenders.
Raheny is likely to be represented on the biggest stage of all through our female stars Sophie Becker and Orla Comerford, both anxiously awaiting the Irish selector’s stamps of approval having attained their required standards.
There are several Raheny athletes in with a more than fighting chance of becoming National Champions over the weekend and seize the opportunity to add to the excitement of the 2020 Championships when the Club was heady with exhilaration over the victories of Niamh Fogarty, Sophie Becker and Iseult O’Donnell.
Form and consistency marks Niamh Fogarty out as the class of the Women’s Discus Field. Having won her 3 in a row Under-23 title last weekend she looks good to make it 3 in a row at Senior level too, prior to heading off to the European Under-23 Championships next month, an event she excelled in two years ago when finishing 8th.
Sophie Becker is in the form of her life this year, having lowered her pb twice over the distance already will not give up her 400m title easily.
This event has the look of a classic with several of her fellow contenders for Olympic relay spots likely to toe the line.
Sadly Iseult O’Donnell remains side-lined with injury, a particularly disappointing setback given the hugely positive trajectory of her career over the last 12 months.
Brian Fay has been the middle distance track star of the year thus far, reducing his own Club record in the 3,000m Steeplechase to a most impressive 8.29.75, for fourth on the all-time list.
Is it really 14-years since Mark Kirwan won the club’s first and only steeple title so far on another memorable day in Santry, ending a few years of misfortune and frustration! Although the opposition headed by the neighbours up the road looks strong the formbook suggests Fay is the class of the field.
At 200m Mark Smyth’s form and improvement all year has been excellent and he can come close to winning the Club’s first ever title at this event.
He may not start favourite but it would be a brave person would bet against destiny’s child ending the famine.
Brandon Arrey’s season has been low key thus far but class is permanent and on basis he survives the heats of the 400m his chances of medalling are as good as any. Similarly Cillian Kirwan (800m), Oisin McCorry (400m Hurdles), Kim O’Hare (Triple Jump) and Niamh Kearney (1500m) are not without hope of medalling.
A five pick of 5000m runner’s, Gavin Eccles, Shane Ryan, Robert Frewen, Rob Kelly and Dylan O’Brien toe the line in the weekends most populous event while Susie O’Flynn (800m), Luke Murphy (800m) and Matthew Cotter ( Triple Jump) will benefit greatly from this level of competition.
There is a Junior 3,000m National Championship included in the programme and here Adam Condon and Dara MacRiocaird carry Raheny hopes.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Kevin Dooney’s Junior 3,000m win.
Whether as part of the lucky 400 (spectators allowed) or via live streaming or maybe even peering forlornly over the Demesne gate we will all be watching out for the White Vest, Green Hoop.
