Go to Photos on the navigation bar of this site and search categories for Irishtown -3 may 2008-3000M Men for a selection of photos by Paul Cummins on the 3000M run on 3 may at Irishtown.

The Irish Milers Club got off to a fantastic start to the year with 50% of the men’s 3000m field running new personal bests and some great performances in the men’s 600m and women’s 1000m in the first meeting of the year sponsored by Nike in Irishtown Stadium. Conditions were almost perfect on the night as the wind died down, the Rolling Stones and REM played in the background and the crowd gathered anticipating some good races. The 3000m field started off at a brisk pace behind pacemaker Brian Farrell with Gary Murray, Colm Rooney, Aidan Bailey, John Coghlan and Lee Merrien in the lead pack. Going through 1500m the clock read 4.05 with the field now whittled down to the four of Murray, Rooney, Merrien and Chesser. Murray took on the pace for two laps before moving aside to let Rooney take up the reins ahead of Merrien. Going into the final lap all three athletes were still together with Chesser and Fintan Mc Gee chasing hard. With 300m to go, Merrien, a twice Commonwealth Games representative, made his move with Rooney tracking him and Murray still in close attendance. With 200m it was a two horse race with Merrien and Rooney generating huge excitement amongst the appreciative crowd. Rooney unleashed his trademark kick in the final 150m to win comfortably in a new personal best time of 8.10.82 and Merrien in 8.12.91. Murray opened his season well with an 8.15.63 with Chesser just holding off the fast closing Mc Gee as they both set new personal bests. Other athletes to run personal best times on the night included Gary O’Hanlon, John Coghlan, Eoin Flynn, Dan King and James King.