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Charlie O'Donovan is Sixth Cork Man Sub 4

3:58.95 Mile for Charlie O'Donovan

David Hemery Invitational Meet

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Saturday February 15th 2020

 

charlie o donovan sub 4 mile david hemery invitational 2020


Villanova Report


Leevale AC's Charlie O'Donovan, on Athletics scholarship at Villanova University, in the USA, became the seventh Cork man, and fifth Leevale athlete to break the 4 minute barrier for the Mile, when he won his heat, at the David Hemery Invitational meet, at the Track & Tennis Center, on the Boston University campus. He also becomes the 42nd Villanovan to run a sub-four minute mile. Charlie joins the exclusive Leevale Sub 4 club, along with Marcus O’Sullivan, Mark Carroll, Ken Nason and Ciaran O’Lionard. After his exploits, Charlie returned to the track later in the evening, to pace the 3000 meters.

The significance, to Charlie, of running a sub-four minute mile can be seen from his reaction crossing the line, from esctacy to disbelief, as the impact sunk in. His closing kick, chasing down and annihilating the leader, only added to the magnitude of the moment.  With 70 metres left, he deftly moved out into lane two, after sitting in behind frontrunner Patrick Gregory, who had stolen a march and generated a significant lead at the bell.  Coming into the final bend Charlie eased past Gregory, bringing four more runners with him, one of who also went sub-4.

It was near-perfect execution of the Race plan went perfectly, with the pacer leading the 12 man field through the first 800 meters, in 1:58, to set the scene for a sub-four minute finish.  The time for the first 400 meters was 58.74, with 1:59.28 at 800. Charlie stayed out of trouble, in third place, the first half of the race.  When the pacer dropped out, after 800 meters, Gregory took the lead, with three laps to go, Wetzel and O'Donovan were in the second and third positions.

The biggest gap between O'Donovan and long time leader Gregory was at the bell. Official splits showed Gregory in front by 1.23 seconds with 200 meters to go, and Gregory appeared to increase his lead, urged on by the crowd, but Charlie caught him on the back straight, and Charlie passed him when he started his kick for the line.

He moved decisively, and he was in command of the race when he entered the finishing straight.  The only question was whether he would break the 4 minute barrier..  The race was streamed live on Flotrack and, when Charlie crossed the line, the commentator shouted "Is it sub-four" before ecstatically exclaiming "YES!".  A glance at the time clock, sealed the  accomplishment for Charlie, who was visibly impacted by his feat.

Results

david hemery invitational mile results 200215

Video

 

Irish Sub 4 Milers

 There are now 44 Sub 4 Minute Irishmen. Charlie O'Donovan slots in there in 33rd position

PosAthleteLocationTimeDate
1 Ray Flynn Oslo 03:49.77 07-Jul-82
2 Eamonn Coghlan East Rutherford NJ 03:49.78 27-Feb-83
3 Mark Carroll Oslo 03:50.62 28-Jul-00
4 Marcus O'Sullivan East Rutherford NJ 03:50.94 13-Feb-88
5 Frank O'Mara Roma 03:51.06 10-Sep-86
6 Ciarán Ó Lionáird New York NY 03:52.10 16-Feb-13
7 Niall Bruton Oslo 03:53.93 05-Jul-96
8 Dave Taylor Cork 03:54.48 13-Jul-83
9 James Nolan Rieti 03:54.62 07-Sep-03
10 Gerry O'Reilly Villanova PA 03:54.63 08-Jun-86
11 Tom Moloney Cork 03:54.68 08-Jul-86
12 John Hartnett Eugene OR 03:54.70 20-Jun-73
13 Paul Robinson Oslo 03:54.77 11-Jun-14
14 Alistair Cragg Fayetteville AR 03:55.04 21-Jan-06
15 Niall O'Shaughnessy New York NY 03:55.40 28-Jan-77
16 John Travers Dublin 03:55.44 11-Jul-14
17 David McCarthy Boston MA 03:55.75 28-Jan-12
18 Paul Donovan Cork 03:55.82 02-Jul-84
19 Enda Fitzpatrick Cork 03:56.36 09-Jul-85
20 Frank Conway Boston MA 03:56.78 22-Jan-89
21 Andrew Coscoran Boston MA 03:56.85 25-Jan-20
22 Seán Tobin Cork 03:57.00 18-Jul-17
23 Ron Delany Dublin 03:57.50 06-Aug-58
24 Gareth Turnbull Philadelphia PA 03:57.61 27-Apr-02
25 Ken Nason Cork 03:58.09 24-Jun-95
26 Frank Murphy Los Angeles CA 03:58.10 07-Jun-69
27 Dave Campbell Wanganui 03:58.19 16-Feb-08
28 Sean O'Neill Cork 03:58.42 07-Jul-87
29 Tomas Cotter Dublin 03:58.50 24-Jul-15
30 Eugene Curran Cork 03:58.54 08-Jul-86
31 Desmond English Cork 03:58.71 25-Apr-94
32 Eoin Everard Dublin 03:58.93 17-Jul-13
33 Charlie O'Donovan Boston MA 03:58.95 15-Feb-20
34 Andrew Walker San Francisco CA 03:58.96 29-Oct-00
35 Mark Christie London 03:58.99 06-Aug-05
36 Jerry Kiernan London 03:59.12 19-Jun-76
37 Shane Healy Cork 03:59.23 25-Jun-94
38 John Coghlan Boston MA 03:59.32 28-Jan-12
39 Kieran Stack Notre Dame IN 03:59.4 06-Feb-88
39 James McIlroy Solihull 03:59.48 05-Sep-98
40 Gary Murray London 03:59.52 06-Aug-05
41 Kevin Batt Leixlip 03:59.53 27-Jun-14
42 Basil Clifford London 03:59.80 03-Aug-64
43 Seamus McCann Cork 03:59.84 05-Jul-88
44 Brian Treacy London 03:59.91 07-Aug-99

 

Cork's Sub 4 Milers

PosAthleteLocationTimeDate
1 Mark Carroll Oslo 03:50.62 28/07/2000
2 Marcus O'Sullivan East Rutherford NJ 03:50.94 13/02/1988
3 Ciarán Ó Lionáird New York NY 03:52.10 16/02/2013
4 John Hartnett Eugene OR 03:54.70 20/06/1973
5 Ken Nason Cork 03:58.09 24/06/1995
6 Charlie O'Donovan Boston MA 03:58.95 15/02/2020
7 Kieran Stack Notre Dame IN 03:59.4 06/02/1988

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