Big Fields – Big Performances

The IMC‘s joint venture meet with Clonliffe Harriers proved to be a huge success. Great atmosphere, big fields,great races and fantastic times (results below). Ironically in the night’s smallest field, the 3k steeple, we had one of the success stories of the evening with young Emmett Jennings gaining the World Qualifying Junior standard in a time of 9.09.15. Paced really well by David Flynn and roared on by the crowd, Emmett showed grit and determination to get just inside the standard.

And youth had its fling earlier in the evening with Letterkenny club mates Mark English and Darren McBrearty both battling to pbs in the men’s A 800m. Mark won the race and became the 6th Irishman this season to break 1.50 and great credit goes to the brilliant pace making of Feidhlim Kelly. Darren JUST missed breaking 1.50 with an agonisingly close 1.50.01.

It is worth pointing out that 4 of these 6 sub 1.50 guys did this at IMC races this season. Indeed when the Irish top 20 800m rankings are updated with last night’s results you will note that 50% of the 2010 800m times were run at IMC races with the next highest majority ( approx 30%) being run at BMC races. A similar story exists for the 1500m rankings.

In the Men’s B 800 Patrick Flynn won in a most impressive 1.53.01 from another emerging Letterkenny athlete Ruairi Finnegan running a superb 1.54.60. No wonder Letterkenny coach Teresa McDaid wore a wide smile.

The men’s C race saw one of the most exciting and closest finishes in a long time with a dead heat between Denis Coughlin and Jordan Stokes. Equally close was the battle for 3rd/4th place between DSD’s Neill Cowzer and Sam Miller with Neil just getting the nod.

The IMC invested heavily in the men’s 1500m pace maker James Thie and Mike Kersahw in an attempt to get the Euro qualifying standard of 3.41. Both Dave McCarthy and Steve Davies were going for this time with Dave McCarthy going closest at 3.42.95 and Liam Reale getting second. A season’s best for Dave and with a little less wind he would surely have made it. We wish him and all IMC club members who are going for qualifying times the best of luck in the next week or so in their endeavours to make the standard.

With so many trying their hand at the 1500m we had a smaller than usual field in the 3k and this was won by Joe McAlistair in a slowish 8.32. Worth noting that Finnuala Brittan sharpened up for Barcelona by competing in this race and ran an impressive 9.11.

We have struggled to get the women to compete in IMC races this season but at last we had 10 competing in the 1500m. Kelly McNiece hurt herself during warm up and had to withdraw. Hazel Murphy won the race with second won by an impressive Amy O’Donohue and a fast finishing Lauren Scott 3rd.

Our sincere thanks go to CLonliffe Harriers and all our helpers and supporters for making the evening a resounding success and inspiring our athletes to some terrific performances.

So NEXT up is our Finale in Belfast 24th July with our cousins the BMC and our friends in Northern Ireland Athletes. Full details of the arrangements will be up on our website early next week. Entries already open through the BMC website.

GOOD LUCK TO IMC MEMBERS IN THE NATIONALS NEXT WEEKEND.

Click here to download results