Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers) has finished 24th in the Men’s Marathon on Day Three of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The 27-year-old ran a well measured race to cross the line in a time of 2:14:12 in his debut on this stage. The Kilkenny athlete went through 10k in 61st position and was 55th at the halfway stage (1:07:03).
He began to move up through the field in the second half, moving up to 40th through 30km and continued to pick off other athletes as the finish line drew near. Entering the Japan National Stadium, Lynch’s finishing position was cemented, and he was able to enjoy the closing 300m, despite suffering tightness in his hamstring.
“It was tough but that’s how we knew it was going to be,” Lynch told Athletics Ireland afterwards. “Today was all about running my own race and getting the best out of myself. I wanted to beat as many bodies as possible.”
“I had a time in mind, around 2:14, with the temperature and having seen how the women’s race went yesterday. That was the aim. Alistair [Cragg, coach] told me not to be worried if I was well back at the start, lads will blow up left, right and centre. I held myself together really well.”
It has been a hugely successful year for Lynch, who in April broke the national record for the event running 2:09:36 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“It’s been class,” he said. “I joined Alistair’s group a year ago and decided this was my chance and I’d go all in. I have the Irish record for now, but I don’t think it’s going to last for too long. Distance running in Ireland is going very well at the moment.”
There was disappointment for Hiko Tonosa (Dundrum South Dublin AC) who did not finish the race. Tonosa passed through halfway in 62nd (1:07:26) but dropped out of the race just after the 35k mark.
Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) returns to action this evening in the Women’s Hammer Throw final having advanced from qualification yesterday. Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) will be in semi-final action in the Women’s 100m Hurdles and Men’s 1500m respectively.
Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) produced the performance of his life to advance to the final of the Men’s 1500m on Day Three of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The Balbriggan native executed his race plan to near perfection as he positioned himself near the head of affairs throughout, before finding space and kicking strongly down the home straight.
Coscoran clocked a time of 3:35.65 to finish fifth in his semi-final, ensuring he had done enough to progress to his first global major championship final.
“I’ve been trying to make a world final for about five years now, I’ve put a lot of work in and made some mistakes along the way trying to make it, but everything clicked today. I’m absolutely chuffed,” he told Athletics Ireland afterwards.
“I was seventh for a lot of the race, so in touching distance of qualification for the whole thing…I was just looking for a gap then. Down that last 100 metres I felt like I had a bit more to give. I think I can run well in the final, it’s new territory for me but I’ll go in there and give it socks,” he added.
In the Women’s Hammer Throw, Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) delivered a strong performance in her maiden global final appearance throwing a best of 69.49 metres to finish 11th.
The 21-year-old had gone into the championships ranked in the 20th on season’s bests but excelled to reach the final.
“I’m obviously a bit disappointed not to throw over 70 metres,” she said. “I was really hoping to sneak out a PB but 11th in the world is still amazing and I’m really proud of that.
“I’m still really young, to make a final is a bonus. I’m a competitor so I always wanted to make it.”
There was disappointment in the Women’s 100m Hurdles for Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) despite finishing 13th overall in the event. The Limerick woman finished fourth in her semi-final, clocking a time of 12.86 seconds.
Lavin, who had been ranked 28th on season’s bests going into the championships, was emotional when speaking afterwards.
“I’m disappointed, not with the placing but more so with my performance,” she said. “Coming up short, you just get sick of it. There so much faith, belief, love and time that’s invested in me, I’m forever indebted for that. I hope someday to deliver something that we can all be really proud of.”
There is no morning session tomorrow in Tokyo, but the evening session has action aplenty to look forward to for Team Ireland. Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) makes his World Championship debut in the heats of the Men’s 800m, before seasoned campaigner Mark English (Finn Valley AC) takes to the track in the same event.
Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) will then look for a big performance in the Women’s 400m semi-finals, before Sarah Healy (UCD AC) races in the final of the Women’s 1500m.
