ATHLETICS Martin Fagan Qualifies For Beijing Marathon

Martin Fagan achieves qualifying standard for Beijing Olympics

Story from AAI www.athleticsireland.ie

Martin Fagan yesterday battled through the pain barrier in the Dubai Marathon to achieve his target of an Olympic qualifying standard for Beijing. Fagan, finished in 2 hours 14 minutes 06 seconds, comfortably inside the Olympic A qualifying standard of 2.15.

The weather in Dubai was perfect for marathoners with temperatures down to 11C, rising to just 14C at the finish, with little wind. World marathon record holder holder Haile Gebrselassie ran the second fastest marathon in history, 2.o4.53 to win the men’s race, but a suicidal early pace by his Ethiopian pacemakers ruined any chance he had of breaking his own world record of 2.04.06, set in Berlin only three months ago.

This was an extraordinary battling performance by 24 year old Martin Fagan who, up to half-way, was on course for an even faster finishing time. “I was with the chasing group and I was feeling good at half –way,”Fagan said. “I had written my projected time splits on my hand and I had expected that there would be time clocks at certain points on the course and so I was not wearing a watch. However, there were no clocks on the course and I found that a bit difficult.”

Fagan then faced a much bigger problem between 25 and 35 kilometres as a troublesome hip injury flared up. “I was in agony for over ten kilometres and I had to stop and stretch a number of times so that I could get just a little bit of relief from the pain,” he said.

“I had been having a few problems in recent times with my back and hip, but I never experienced anything like the pain I had at that critical point of the race. However, I fought on and it was a huge relief to finish inside the Olympic Qualifying standard. That was my target and I was determined to make it.”

Fagan finished in much distress and was immediately taken away for medical examination. “The doctor said that I may have a stress fracture of my hip, but I am hoping that he is wrong, “Fagan said. “It was worth all the pain and discomfort to have made the Olympic qualifying standard. The conditions were good and it was a tough but very worthwhile experience.”

The Mullingar man will arrive back in Dublin early on Sunday morning and already Athletics Ireland High Performance Manager, Gareth Devlin has made arrangements for him to receive the best of medical care.

Fagan’s can now be confident of making the Irish track and field team for Beijing- the first time since 1992 that Ireland will have a representative in the Olympic Marathon. The Barcelona Olympics of 1992 saw three Irish runners in the marathon-John Treacy, Andy Ronan and Tommy Hughes.

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was Fagan’s second choice in his race for an Olympic qualifying standard. Fagan had hoped to run in the Houston marathon earlier this month, before he encountered visa difficulties which denied him re-entry to America. Ireland’s latest Olympic qualifier is now hoping that his US visa problem will soon be sorted out and that he will be able to complete some of his Olympic training preparations at his U.S training base where his coach resides.

“Athletics Ireland have been very helpful to me over the past several weeks and they organised accommodation for me in DCU during my training build-up for Dubai.,” Fagan said.