Athletics:Maria McCambridge's hopes of making it to a second Olympics were ended today when she was informed by Athletics Ireland that she would miss the London Games following a selection decision over the women's marathon.
Four Irish athletes had made the A qualifying time of two hours and 37 minutes, with McCambridge recording 2:36.37, the slowest of the four runners.
The five strong Athletics Ireland selection committee opted for Ava Hutchinson (2:35.33), Caitriona Jennings (2:36.17) and Linda Byrne (2:36.23), all three of whom will experience Olympic competition for the first time.
“The decision has been made and I will be accepting it,” said Letterkenny AC runner McCambridge, who was seeking selection to her second Olympics, having competed in the 5,000 metres in 2004.
“It has been an agonising wait but at least now it’s over and I can get on with other things because these past couple of weeks have been difficult with so much riding on something that is actually out of your hands. The wait just consumes your life, it’s difficult to concentrate and hard to sleep. One minute you are confident and the next you feel down in the dumps.
“Like the others in I was keeping my fingers crossed that I would make it but at least now the agonising wait is over and I can get on with other things.”