ATHLETICS/World Indoor Championships: Both David Gillick and Alistair Cragg have been named on the Irish team travelling to Moscow for the World Indoor championships, which take place from March 10-12th.
A year after famously capturing European Indoor titles on the same night they again represent the best hope of medals, although their ambitions are probably a little more curbed this time.
Gillick, in fact, has yet to confirm his participation in the 400 metres. So far this season he's concentrated on the 200 metres, lowering his personal best to 21.45 seconds when winning the Irish title earlier this month. Currently training in Florida, he'll run his first 400 metres at the Gainsville Fast Times meeting on Thursday, and the outcome of that will ultimately decide whether he goes to Moscow.
Originally it wasn't part of his plan for 2006, but after consulting his coach, Jim Kidd, in recent days Gillick clearly believes he can make the trip to Moscow worthwhile. Only four athletes have run sub-46 this year. And Gillick's best of 46.17, clocked on route to winning European gold in Madrid last year, would likely put him in the mix with the best of them.
In the meantime Athletics Ireland were happy to submit his entry as party of the nine-strong Irish team, with David McCarthy also selected in the 400 metres. That event has been kind to the Irish in recent years, with both Gillick and McCarthy part of the relay team that captured bronze medals at the last World Indoors in Budapest in 2004.
Cragg dropped out of his only 3,000 metres race this season, the distance over which he won European gold, but remains adamant that his form will come good in Moscow.
His 3:55.04 mile clocked last month remains the fastest in the world this year, and if Cragg can match the effort produced in Madrid last year then he too can be in the mix for medals. It's no help, however, that the Ethiopian entry will consist of multiple world champion Kenenisa Bekele, who'll also have his younger brother, Tariku, for company, while Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, who holds the fastest time this season with his 7:33.07, will be equally hard to beat.
Ireland's next best hope for a medal or at least a finalist is without doubt Derval O'Rourke. Her indoor form over the 60 metre hurdles has been both progressive and impressive, culminating with her national record of 7.90 seconds at the Irish championships last Sunday week. That leaves the Cork athlete with the sixth fastest time in the world this year, and it was interesting to note that the American title was won this weekend in 7.93 by Danielle Carruthers.
Also heading to Moscow is James Nolan, entered for both the 1,500 and 3,000 metres. He lowered his personal best over the latter distance to 7:72.84 in Gent on Sunday, and his 3:39.89 over 1,500 metres remains the eighth fastest in the world this year.
Emily Maher and Ailis McSweeney are both selected for the women's 60 metres, with Maher showing the better form after lowering the national record to 7.38.
Finally, newly-crowned inter-club cross country champion Maria McCambridge will be joined by Roisin McGettigan, the steeplechase specialist, in the women's 3,000 metres.
Irish team
World Indoor championships
Men - Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe) 3,000m; James Nolan (UCD) 1,500m & 3,000m; David McCarthy (LeCheile), David Gillick (DSD) both 400m; Women - Derval O'Rourke (Leevale) 60m Hurdles; Roisin McGettigan (Slí Cualann), Maria McCambridge (DSD) both 3,000m; Emily Maher (KCH), Ailis McSweeney (Leevale) both 60m.
