Athletics:Derval O'Rourke is among the seven athletes named to represent Ireland at the 31st European Indoor Championships to take place in Paris from March 4th-6th.
The former world indoor (60m) champion and double European silver medal winner (100m) was a notable absentee from last weekend’s National Indoor Championships in Belfast, but the Leevale hurdler insisted the move was “purely precautionary”.
The 29-year-old sustained a minor groin strain and cut her knee in training in recent weeks. This ruled her out of competing in Karlsruhe, Germany, last Saturday's Birmingham meet plus the National Indoors at the Odyssey.
Preparations ahead of Paris have not been ideal and it remains to be seen how competitive O’Rourke will be in the French capital in two week's time.
O'Rourke will only have had two races under her belt; the 8.16 she clocked in Linz, Austria, when finishing second and the 8.03 she ran in Liévin, France, when finishing third.
Her 60m hurdles heats and final are all set for the opening day of the Europeans to take place at the Palais Omnisport on Friday, March 4th.
There was good news from O’Rourke’s team mates, Ailis McSweeney (60m), Tori Pena (Pole Vault), Mary Cullen (1500m) and Brian Gregan (400m), who all won their respective events in Belfast over the weekend.
In Birmingham on Saturday Cullen ran a season’s best 8:53:01 over 3000m in Birmingham before claiming the Irish 1500m indoor title in Belfast.
“The team is small but elite, and is a good blend of youth and experience. We are really excited at the prospect of this team going to Paris,” said Ray Flynn, Athletics Ireland high performance chairman.
“With the closing date not until February 27th, this gives other Irish athletes who are close to qualifying times the opportunity to attain the standard.”
Ireland team (European Indoor Championships, Paris)
(March 4th-6th, 2011)
Derval O'Rourke (Leevale AC)- 60m Hurdles (season's best (SB) - 8:03 - eighth fastest in Europe this year)
Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC)- 60m (SB - 7:32 - 24th fastest in Europe this year)
Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC)- 3000m (SB - 8:53:01 - eighth fastest in Europe this year)
Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC)- Pole Vault (SB - 4m 30 - Irish Record - European top 20 this year)
Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC)- Long Jump (SB - 6:44 - 30th best jump in Europe this year)
Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC)- 400m (SB - 46:82 - 11th fastest in Europe this year)
Darren McBrearty (Letterkenny AC)- 800m (SB - 1:47:87 - 14th fastest in Europe this year)