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Rio 2016 Athletics Ireland Day 2 Report

Rio Olympics - Athletics Ireland Day 2 Report

Rio de Janeiro, Saturday August 13th 2016

 Rio Olympics Irish Women Steeplechasers

Sara Treacy Makes Olympic Steeplechase Final

Athletics Ireland report by Feidhlim Kelly

Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) put in a heroic effort in heat 3 of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase and advanced to the final on appeal after being impeded at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro today (August 13).

Treacy finished 12th in heat 3 in 9:46.24 but was impeded and fell when in contention. Ethiopia’s Etenesh Diro and Jamaica’s Aisha Praught, who finished 7th and 8th in 9:34.70 and 9:35.79 respectively, also advanced to the final as a result of the collision.

The Meath woman took a heavy fall on the infield and was left bloody and shaken – but not defeated. “This is not going to define my Olympics. Get up and get going,” was the Dunboyne athlete’s response on when she fell hitting the inside of the track on the grass. Treacy had passed through the mixed zone before hearing the news of her qualification but commenting on the incident she said:

“I caught up with the back of the pack and someone just stopped and everyone ran into the back of them. I tried to avoid it and I stepped on the inside of the track. It all happened so quickly. I stood on a drainage grate on the inside of the track and fell completely. I just completely lost momentum and lost the whole pack and had to get going again.”

Treacy remained upbeat and determined afterwards. “It’s all it’s cracked up to be,” she said of the Olympics. “I’ll have to get ready for London (world championships) next year.” She need not wait that long with the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final on Monday August 15 at 11:15 Brazil time/15:15 Irish time.

Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) produced a season’s best of 9:45.35 finishing 14th in heat 1. “It was a season’s best and it’s been great on this journey with the girls and creating history with the three of us at the Olympics.” This was a the first time a full quota of Irish women made the steeplechase at the Olympics.

Michelle Finn (Leevale) finished 11th in heat 2 in 9:and 49.45 and felt she could have gone faster. “I really do think overall I could have done a little. I had more left but it was a great experience.”

Mark English 5th in 1:45.93 in Men's 800m Semi on Olympic Debut

Mark English Rio 2016 Olympic 400m Semi min

Mark English (UCD) bowed out of the Olympics after a fifth place finish in his 800m semi-final final in 1:45.93 in Rio de Janeiro (August 13).

The Donegal man went in the third and final semi-final, needing to better the Irish record of 1:44.82 to be in with a chance of qualification. The first two in each semi and two fastest non-automatic qualifiers advanced to the final.  

Kenya’s world record holder David Rudisha was in impressive form to win English’s semi in 1:43.88. “I wanted to go out there and have no regrets,” said English afterwards. “I did the best race I could. It was always going to be tough running two races in two days.” The UCD medicine student had missed an important part of training in the build-up due to injury.

“I’m always looking to better myself and I focus on the process,” he concluded afterwards and he will continue to race for the rest of the season.

Irish in action on Day 3, Sunday August 14

09:30/13:30 Marathon - Women's Final - Lizzie Lee (Leevale), Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole) and Breege Connolly (North Belfast Harriers)

Rio Olympics Ciara Mageean Women 1500m Round 1

21:30/1:30am 1500m Women's Semi-Final - Ciara Mageean (UCD)

Full Olympic Athletics Schedule, including Irish Athletes timetables

Rio Olympics - Athletics Day 3 - Sunday, August 14th, 13:30

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Cork Athletics County Board is a constituent member of Athletics Ireland. Cork Athletics is the governing body, administering athletics, track and field (T&F), cross-country (XC) and running in county Cork. The Board comprises elected representatives of constituent athletic clubs and running clubs. Cork County Board AAI organises Championship races and competition, including road, track & field (T&F) and Cross-country (XC), at junior, juvenile, senior and masters levels, and selects representation for the county. In addition, training and education is provided for coaches and officials. The Board also regulates the Athletics Ireland race/event permit (licence) process for county Cork.
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