Athletes Pre Selected for European Indoor Championships:
Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC)
Coach: John Shields
Brian currently lies top of the 2013 European Indoor rankings in the 400m with his time of 46.07 which he set at the Athletics Ireland Open Games on January 27th. He continued his good form with a significant win at the IAAF Permit Meet in Gent on Sunday 10th of February. On that occasion he beat the Olympic finalist Jonathan Borlee from Belgium and Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic. Gregan continued his preparations with an emphatic win in the 200m at the national indoor championships last weekend.
Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC)
Coach: Mark Rowland
Another athlete who sits top of the European rankings is Ciaran O’Lionaird after his stunning new personal best of 3:52.10 which came in the Wannamaker Mile at the Millrose Games on Saturday, 16th of February. The time ranks him number four on the Irish All-Time list for the mile after Eamon Coghlan, Marcus O’Sullivan and Ray Flynn. The 1500m equivalent for his time is 3:36.85+ which places him top of the 1500m European Indoor rankings. O’Lionaird also possess a season’s best time of 7:53.69 for the 3,000m which came at the New Balance Boston Indoor Games on February 2nd.
Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC)
Coach: Sean & Terrie Cahill
Irish record holder Derval O’Rourke is a renowned championship athlete and she will once again head into a major championship with aspirations of a top performance. O’Rourke has an impressive track record over the 60m hurdles including a world title in 2006 and a bronze medal at the 2009 version of these championships. O’Rourke has a season’s best of 8.08, however quicker times are certainly on the cards as the championships progress for the supremely competitive cork athlete.
Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC)
Coach: Chris Jones
Double European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) has been the outstanding European athlete over the country for the past two years, notching up numerous victories. Britton will be determined to make an impression on the track in Gothenburg and after recording a personal best of 4.13.96 at the nationals she will be confident of doing so. Britton has also set a personal best of 8.55.22 over 3,000m for the meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany on the 2nd of February.
Ciara Everard (UCD AC)
Coach: James Nolan
Ciara Everard has made a massive breakthrough this indoor season breaking the national indoor 800m record with a stunning 2:02.54 run in Athlone on February 10th. She won the national championships recently with a tremendous burst of speed over the final 200m, demonstrating clever racing tactics. This will be Everard’s debut at the European Championships and under the guidance of her coach Olympian James Nolan; she will be one to watch over the three days of competition.
Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC)
Coach: David Reid
Amy Foster ran a new personal best of 7.33 at the national championships to secure the qualifying time for the Europeans. The time was just .03 outside the national record of 7.30 held by Anna Boyle. Foster has represented Ireland at a number of International competitions over the last couple of years including the 2012 European outdoor championships in Helsinki.
David McCarthy (West Waterford AC)
Coach: Ray Treacy
David McCarthy ran 7:51.24 for the 3,000m at the 2013 Makeup BU Valentine Invitational in Boston on the 14th of February. The time ranks him top of the 2013 Irish Indoor rankings and confirms the outstanding talent and promise he has shown over the last couple of years. McCarthy has also run 3:57.22 for the mile at the Terrier Invitational in Boston on January 26th. This will be McCarthy’s debut at a European Indoor Championship.
Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC)
Coach: Greg Hull
Irish record holder Tori Pena equalled her own national record of 4.45m in the pole vault at a meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona on the 16th of February. Pena had first time clearances at 4.25m, 4.35m and 4.45m before exiting the competition at 4.55m. Qualification for the final in Gothenburg has to be the ultimate focus now for Pena.
