Ireland Claim 7th Place at European Team Championships

The second and final day of competition at the 2013 European Athletics Team Championships in the Morton Stadium was one of real determination and passion by Team Ireland to try and maintain their overnight positive position, and keep their '1st League' status plans alive.

The fifty-strong Irish team can be justly proud of its 7th place performance this afternoon, and the way in which they responded to - not only the positive and vocal home support - but the pressure to keep on delivering much needed points for Ireland again in the 20 events in today's programme.

Once more the Morton Stadium was very busy with Irish supporters there to give their invaluable support to the home team and to enjoy the very well run Team Championships in action, in the mixed but again quite windy conditions.

Many of the Irish Team competing Santry today were enjoying first senior cap honours - and on this weekend they truly grew into the coveted Irish athletics singlet.

This was Ireland's best ever performance in the combined men's and women's team championships, improving on their eight place from 2010. The Irish team amassed a total of 242 points to finish in seventh place, behind this weekend's 1st League winners the Czech Republic, who scored an overall total of 351.5 to beat Sweden and The Netherlands for team gold.

Today as yesterday there were some excellent performances by Team Ireland.

Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) brought the home crowd to their feet early on in the afternoon, when he won his heat of the 110m hurdles in a new PB time of 13.71. Reynolds ran aggressively over the barriers and stormed down the track to an emphatic victory. Once the times were combined from the two heats, Reynolds was ranked third overall, securing 10 crucial points for the Irish team.

Reynolds said "It was good, I'm pretty pleased with the result to be honest. I didn't get started very well but got to mid race and got going. I think it was the crowd, I heard the cheering and it picked me up."

Another solid performance for Team Ireland was put in by David McCarthy (West Waterford AC) in finishing in fourth place in the 3,000m. McCarthy ran a smart tactical race and was always close to the leading trio of athletes, and then showed a steely resolve in battling all the way down the finishing straight to secure a fourth place in a time of 8:20.08, and 9 more points to add to Ireland's tally in the fight for volatile mid-table positions.

Commenting afterwards McCarthy reflected: "This is my first race of the season. I didn't know where I was coming into it. I fought hard at the end, came back and sailed past the guy from Sweden, I'm happy with that."

Tomas Cotter (Dunleer AC) was another of the Irish team to produce a spirited performance when he finished fourth in the 3,000m Steeplechase.
Recently returned home from America after a busy College season, Cotter showed tremendous determination throughout the challenging race to finish in fourth position, in a time of 8:56.31.

Cotter was duly pleased with his performance afterwards: "Brilliant. I'd say I was ranked about 5th or 6th and two of them have been to the Olympics before. Hitting the bell it was unbelievable. I'm happy; it's been a long year in America, but I'm delighted with that."

Brian McGovern (Crusaders AC) also scored crucial points for Ireland in the field events when he secured another fourth position and 9 points in the Pole Vault. McGovern cleared a height of 5m15 on his second attempt to place fourth, in what was otherwise a challenging day for many of Ireland's field event athletes in sometime difficult conditions.

Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC), making her senior International debut this weekend, produced a performance way beyond her years when finishing fifth in the 100m hurdles. Lavin showed no fear as she powered over the barriers to finish fifth in heat two, in a time of 13.54 to earn another vital seven points for Ireland in the hunt to keep safely away from the bottom quarter of teams.

Lavin: "I'm thrilled, it was a big bonus to get into the A race and to have my time originally putting me in there, it was really a confidence-builder going in. I'm happy enough with my performance, I did the best I could today and that's what matters."

Roseanne Galligan (Newbridge AC) was in action again today in the women's 1500m, stepping in at short notice for the ill Claire Tarplee (DSD AC). Following on her from her competitive 5th place over 800m yesterday, Galligan ran a gutsy race to the end to finish 6th in 4.26.04, for 7 more welcome points.

The Irish men's and women's 4×400m relay provided a thrilling conclusion to the two day's of competitive action, much to the delight of the enthusiastic and vociferous home crowd.

The women's team of Sinead Denny (Dundrum South Dublin AC), Jennifer Carey (Dudnrum South Dublin AC), Shauna Cannon (Brothers Pearse AC) and Jessie Barr (Ferrybank AC) won their heat in marvellous fashion in a time of 3:38.43, to secure ten fantastic points for the Irish team.

Barr, who looked resplendent on the final leg, acknowledged the home crowd support: "It was brilliant. It's a completely brand new team so we had no idea what we were all going to do together and the crowd really got behind us. For a new team we did really really well,and we can only build on that"

The men's relay team of Jason Harvey (Crusaders AC), Dara Kervick (Carrick on Suir A.C), Richard Morrissey (Crusaders AC) and Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) turned the crowd's excitement level up to 11 when they also won their heat, in a good time of 3:08.12. The manner of victory was superb with all four athletes upping their A game and efforts in their pursuit of the full twelve points on offer.

The team's ambitions were rewarded when the times were combined over the two heats, and the Irish time of 3:08.12 put them over two seconds clear of Belgium, in second place with 3:10.25.

Commenting afterwards Morrissey said "I just tried to add to what the two boys ahead of me had already built up. Tried to maintain it and obviously give Brian a little gap and he'll be away. I think we did really well, I'm pleased with our efforts."

The overall performance by this young Irish team was impressive in the way their momentum, their 'never-say-die' attitude and the intangible team-spirit from Day 1 was carried into Day 2, in the face of stiff European opposition - and in the way they achieved the goal of maintaining crucial 1st league European Team athletics status.

Irish Team in Competitive Position after Day 1 of 2013 European Athletics Team Championships 1st League, Santry, Dublin.

On Day 1 of the 2013 European Athletics Team Championships 1st League in the Morton Stadium, Team Ireland have put themselves in an excellent position from which to build on in tomorrow's final day of action in these prestigious but highly competitive team championships.

The large crowd in attendance this afternoon also really enjoyed very well organised, compelling athletics action, in the mixed but quite windy weather conditions in the famous Morton Stadium.

The Irish men's and women's team really rose to the challenge this afternoon and performed well under pressure and against top European competition.

At the end of day 1 the Irish team lies in 6th position of 12 teams, and will be eager to perhaps improve on this place in tomorrow's final day. Team Ireland may have only 'won' one event this afternoon to take the top number of 12 points, but the Irish team had a real sense of positive consistency in its results, and the ever important 'team-spirit' was really in evidence, and this is reflected in the team's positive overnight position.

Ireland's Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) won his 400m race in great style, taking the top 12 points in a time of 46.32 in the quite windy conditions. This performance by Gregan, mid-way through the programme on his home track, motivated the rest of the team even more and took the momentum further.

The in-from Gregan stormed down the home straight well in control and crossed the line to record one of the most impressive wins by any athlete on the day. "It was so windy coming down the straight that I could have been walking, but I train here and I'm used to this weather", a delighted Gregan said post-race.

In the straight sprint, Jason Smyth (City of Derry AC) ran very well to finish third in the men's 100m with a time of 10.78 seconds to take a coveted 10 points. His compatriot Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) also gave it everything and placed well in 5th position in 11.96 seconds for 8 points.

Jason Harvey (Crusaders AC) put in a tremendous effort in the 400m hurdles, an effort which may have deserved more than his fourth place and 8 points. Harvey's time of 51.86 wasn't too far behind Rasmus Magi of Estonia who took the gold in 51.48. Harvey reflected afterwards "It was ok, it was a bit of a rough race, the wind was a nightmare. The last 100m was like running into a wall. It wasn't an ideal race but I ended up fourth and that's not too bad."
800m specialist Laura Crowe (An Riocht AC) stepped up in distance to compete in the 3,000m and produced a determined performance. Crowe finished in fourth place in a time of 9:19.04, earning Ireland nine points for her efforts. Crowe said "I'm delighted, it was my first senior cap. I wanted to get third and I really dug in, but I was going at my max there in the last 50. I gave it everything though."
Shane Quinn (Ferrybank AC) ran a very confident race to finish fourth for another 9 points in the 5,000m, in heavy rain. One of the youngest athletes on the Irish team the Providence athlete really stepped up to the task, leading the field at the bell and into the final lap. Commenting afterwards Quinn said "Conditions being what they were, no one was breaking any records today. I just had to stay towards the front and cover every move that was made. I was happy I was able to make the move when I did.
Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC) returned from the US and came close to winning the women's pole vault. Pena entered the competition at 4.14m, which she duly cleared at the first attempt, and followed up with another first time clearance at 4.30m, to earn her second place overall and a prized eleven team points. Three subsequent attempts at 4.40m proved unsuccessful. Pena:"It was good; I just had to make some adjustments to my run up and just had to make the best of the conditions. Probably the strongest wind I have competed in. Considering the conditions, I'm happy with 4.30 off that approach."
In the women's 800m, Roseanne Galligan (Newbridge AC) finished very well to claim 5th place and 8 points in a close finish in 2.04.26. Leading at the bell, Galligan fought all the way round the second lap and just out on 4th place on the line.

Jessie Barr (Ferrybank AC) also ran a very positive 400m Hurdles race and claimed a bronze medal in third in 57.50 for another 10 valuable points for Team Ireland. Likewise Sinead Denny (DSD AC) ran a tactically sound race to finish 2nd in heat 1 in 54.74 seconds, good enough for 6 points from the two races.

Claire Fitzgerald (Tralee Harriers AC) set a new season's best of 50.93m in finishing fifth in the women's discus to win more 8 more valuable points for Ireland. Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) also showed real battle qualities in the men's 1500m, running a tactically good race to place 5th in 3.47.92 for 8 points, after giving it all in home straight.

When Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC), Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC), Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) and Phil Healy (Bandon AC) crossed the line in an excellent second place in heat two of the women's 4X100m relay, in 44.82 for a smashing 10 points, their performance really spoke volumes for the all round performance of this Irish team on the first day of the European Athletics Team Championships at Morton Stadium.

While their run may not have been a new Irish record in the challenging conditions, the team did set a new Munster record in the process.

The men's 4×100m relay team of David Hynes (Menapians AC), Craig Lynch (Shercock AC), Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC) and Marcus Lawler (St Laurence O'Toole AC) unfortunately didn't fare as well as the women, with the team failing to get the baton around successfully. While the team were understandably very disappointed with the handover, it didn't take away from all round uplifting and spirited performance put in by this Irish team throughout the day of top-class European competition.

Some of Europe's and indeed the world's finest athletes were also winners today in Santry today for their respective team nations.

2012 Olympic 100m finalist Churandy Martina (NED) won the men's 100m in 10.46 in sparkling fashion; Hungary's 2012 Olympic Hammer champion Krisztian Pars took Gold in the event with a throw of 76.56m, while Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic, undefeated over the 400m H this season, won gold and top points for her country in the women's 400m flat in 51.90 seconds.

The large number of informed Irish athletics spectators also thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch these and other world class athletes compete 'up close and personal' today in the Morton Stadium this afternoon.