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
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
Video
Irish Sub 4 Milers
There are now 44 Sub 4 Minute Irishmen. Charlie O'Donovan slots in there in 33rd position
Pos | Athlete | Location | Time | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
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
Pos | Athlete | Location | Time | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |