Athletics 2024 (Mod note #869)

What meet was that? Agree that Baird is really hammering on the door of 45s. That 45.14 anchor leg in Rome suggests he is capable of 45.8x/45.9x right now.

Another performance in that range may be enough to get him into the mixed relay pool for Paris.

Keep your knickers on. Corrected now. All good!!

Ah that's better.

Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce ran yesterday at a pre trails competition in Jamaica. 11.15. She won't pull many trees up with that but it would be some story if she can make another games.

Thats a full 3 seconds faster than the fastest time ran at the recent Euros, which is circa 25 meters on the track.

On a bit of a segue - the fastest time at the recent Euros was set by Paul Anselmini of France in the first round. He ran a 1.44.73. A time that would have won the final…. but he didnt make it out of the semifinal.

Mark English new NR tonight in Turku, 1:44:69. Auto Q for Paris. Also, Cathal Doyle and Luke McCann finished 1-2 in 3:34.xx

12.66 for Sarah Lavin, too. Back to form.

Great run from English, a pity it wasn't a week ago!

Incidentally I wonder is the 800m the only Irish record over a championship distance that isn't the fastest time run by an Irishman? I can't think of any other cases like that.

James McIlroy ran 1:44:65 for his PB almost 20 years ago. James was Irish and ran for Ireland but later switched to GB and was representing them when he ran the time, so it doesn't count as an Irish record. Mark English obviously very close to that time now with his new National Record.

McIlroy himself has expressed frustration that he's not classed as the Irish national record holder, but it can't be counted so English's time is listed as a NR.

Yes, that's a good one, hadn't appreciated she had run faster than the Irish record. Another might possibly be Adeleke's wind assisted 100m run recently, if you were counting that.

There is going to be a segment on The Last Word on TodayFM later in regards funding for Irish athletes and trainers…

Maybe if they could get some of the 76 million the horse racing industry gets might help….

Maybe they should be funded without resorting to the horse and greyhound fund which provides jobs for many thousands, the funding for all sport in this Country should be increased for no other reason than it gives a huge amount of people a lift to see Irish Sports people excel on the international stage.

History now, as English just ran 1:44.53 in Madrid.

The swimming is being held in SoFi stadium, where the opening ceremony will also take place. They needed to flip the swimming to the second week to allow enough time for SoFi be converted to a swimming venue after the opening ceremony.

Good to see Mawdsley consistently sub-51. The athletes in that race are of the standard that she will face in the 400m heats in Paris. She’s looking good to make the Olympic semi finals for sure, but she’s going to need to find another 0.5 seconds to get a sniff of the final.

I have been keeping an eye on the US Olympic trials, especially the 400m women. A surprise winner in Kendal Ellis who set a big PB of 49.46 at 28 years of age. In second was Alilyah Butler who didn't even make the NCAA 400m final with Alexis Holmes in third. Kaylyn Brown who ran 49.13 to take 2nd at NCAAs was fourth . I am assuming it is the usual first 3 across the line make the team. I said before that the NCAAs are not a reliable guide, Looks like Brown didnt make the team whilst Rosey Effiong who was 4th at NCAAs didn't even make the Trials final. Talitha Diggs another who did not make the final this time around.

Shacarri Richardson won the Women's 100m and Noah Lyles the mens, but Christian Coleman was 4th behind Bendarek and Kerley.

And 16 year old Quincy Wilson made the mens 400m final with another sub 45 clocking