Athletics 2024 (Mod note #869)

Re : "This year though I think the athletes need to and are prioritising themselves"

The same can really be said for most years, as you'll have olympic, followed by world and euro championship on a cycle. That said, I do understand athletes prioritising their schedule.

Don't get me wrong I'm no fan boy of AI, and god knows the need a big clear out, but can you imagine the difference in going looking for sponsorship when you can say you have the stars competing verses when they're not. No doubt success leads to success, and in turn lead to generating sponsorship. I believe AI have a new gear sponsor lined up for next year based on the European success.

I don't want this the come across an me specifically talking about Ciara, I most certainly am not. I'm just highlighting why I think our top athletes should be at the our national champs.

Competitiveness is only determined afterwards. The people you are trying to entice to watch probably don't know what any of the times were going to be, they just want to see the big names competing. New fans to the sport after the euros weren't sitting there thinking that there is no point in her taking part, they just wanted to see her race.

Big names competing brings more eyeballs which brings more sponsorship, thats pretty undisputable.

Did Sonia always run the nationals.

as for “Irish funded” athletes, surprised at that from Sonia. Athletes should compete where they want and the 20 to 40 grand a year they get from the government should have nothing to do with it. If they were paying serious grant money than by all means that changes

https://worldathletics.org/stats-zone/road-to/7153115?eventId=10229612

My quick reading is

Barr and Becker* will miss out individually.

Coscoran and McCann in and Doyle just squeaking in too in the mens 1500m.

*Although it has Sydney McLaughlin top qualifier in the women's 400s as the lists are based off running times not National Championships so the list may not be quite finalised yet.

Interesting reference Adeleke was 0.06 off the Olympic qualifying standard in the 100m.

Things are looking good for some of our athletes.

Taking from Elizabeth Egan on "X"

ROAD to PARIS UPDATES
Mostly good news for the Irish. Tuthill, O'Connor, L McCann, Doyle and Favors all remain within quota, so are eligible to be selected for Paris! Barr needs 2 withdrawals, Becker needs 4, J McCann needs 5 & P Healy needs 12.

Interesting race being held on Sunday in Croke Park.

Apparently there will he a Tailteann games commemorative 1 mile race held, over a 5 lap course during half time or between matches.

Sorry but details are hard to find, so I don't know the entry list..

I know the pitch will be immaculate but surely Sub 4 on grass would be harder than on a track.

Be interesting to see what pedigree of athlete is competing and hopefully it's on the tv broadcast

Few Irish in action in high profile meets this weekend.

Paris diamond league: 1500m. Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy up against Faith Kipyegon.

FBK games in the Netherlands: 400m. Sharlene Mawdsley up against Femke Bol and two of the other members of the Dutch relay squad, Peeters and DeWitte.

Cork City Sports Tuesday 9th July and The Morton Games Friday 12th July are both showing under the live tab of the European Athletics YouTube channel so looks like there will be live stream if you can't make it to the events

Heading along myself. Great chance to see some of our Olympians before Paris

Cool, thanks for that. Looks like the 1500m race is last, 450pm our time.

Turned out to be the fastest 1500m in history with numerous athletes setting PBs - Sarah Healy ran an incredible 3.57.46…..Mageaan will be a bit disappointed in comparison with her 3.58.69.

Ya, what are people's thoughts on that? Did Ciara just think "they've gone way too fast" and run her own race? Was it sensible with Olympics relatively close?

But look at what Jess Hull did, took 5 seconds off her PB. It's not every day you have a world record run/runner in front of you to chase after, she just thought "f*ck it" and went for it and got a time that you would damn near think was impossible beforehand.

I don't think Mageean will be one bit happy with her time or her position. It's a race where you might have expected her to run 3.55 or even lower.

You’re welcome. Only catching up now. Terrific run by Sarah Healy. She continues to improve every year. Not sure what to make of Ciara Mageean’s run, but it’s not particularly promising four weeks out from the Olympics.

Sharlene Mawdsley was also disappointing, only finishing fourth in Hengelo and well outside 51 seconds. Andrew Coscoran had a shocker in the men’s 1,000m.

All-up, quite a deflating reality check from an Irish perspective.