ATHLETICS: Mary Cullen's emergence as a world class middle distance runner was confirmed today when the Co Sligo athlete claimed the 3,000 metres bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships.
Cullen’s medal was the second for Ireland of these championships following Derval O’Rourke’s bronze in the 60m hurdles last Friday.
Cullen hit the front with five laps to go at the Oval Lingotto as she tried to shake off the attentions of the chasing pack, but was eventually passed by winner Almitu Bekele of Turkey and Portugal’s Sara Moreira.
After a slow start, Cullen’s front-running helped Bekele set a new national record of eight minutes 46.50 seconds with 26-year-old Cullen recording a time of 8:48.47.
“I went for the win and got a bronze and I’m very happy with that,” Cullen said afterwards. “I thought there were five of us who could get a medal and I’ve beaten two of them.
“It’s great after missing all of 2008 and the Olympic Games in Beijing. I had a calf injury that we couldn’t diagnose at first and watching the Games on television was very frustrating.”
Dundrum South Dublin runner Deirdre Byrne finished 11th in the race in a time of 9.08.89.
The women’s 4x400m relay almost claimed a third Irish bronze later in the day, the team of Marian Andrews, Bronagh Furlong, Gemma Hynes and Claire Bergin edged out for the medal positions in the last lap by Belarus.
“From start until finish it has been a great performance from everyone involved,” manager Patsy McGonagale said of the Irish team’s performance over the last three days. “Every athlete out there gave there best and on certain occasions we may have even come back with more medals if you look at how close Roisin (McGettigan) and the relay team were.
“All in all this has been a great success and we can all look positively towards the World Championships in August now.”
Dwain Chambers, meanwhile, claimed Britain’s second gold with victory in the 60 metres. After a false start by team-mate Simeon Williamson, Chambers stormed out of the blocks and was never in danger of being caught.
The 30-year-old former drugs cheat crossed the line in 6.46 seconds with Italian duo Fabio Cerutti and Emanuele Di Gregorio claiming silver and bronze.
Williamson was fourth in 6.57sec with Pickering, silver medallist two years ago, fifth in 6.61.
Irish in Action(all times Irish)
Sunday
3.30pm
3000m final women: Mary Cullen capped a hugely successful championships for the Sligo runner with a bronze medal, Deirdre Byrne was 11th
4.30pm
400m relay final women: The team of Marian Andrews, Brona Furlong, Gemma Hynes and Claire Bergin were run out of the medals by Belarus, finishing fourth in a time of 3:36.82
Saturday
8.30am
60m Round 1 women: Niamh Whelan matched her personal best (7.49 seconds) but failed to qualify. Ailis McSweeney (7.51) also went out in the first round
8.35am
High Jump qualifying women: Deirdre Ryan missed out on the final, finishing 10th in qualifying (1.85m)
9am
60m Round 1 men: Paul Hession qualified for the semi-finals after finishing fourth in his heat (6.70)
10.05am
3000m Round 1 women: Mary Cullen won her heat (8:55.01) and Deirdre Byrne (9:00.67) also made the final
3.30pm
800m semi-final men: David McCarthy bowed out having finished last in his semi-final (1:53.53)
3.40pm
Long Jump final women: Kelly Proper fell some way short of her Irish record with 6.39 metres to finish seventh
4pm
60m semi-final men: Hession missed out on a place in the final but improved on this morning's time (6.66)
4.35pm
1500m final women: Roisin McGettigan came within a whisker of bronze, claiming fourth in a time of 4:11.58