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Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) has secured a top 24 finish in the 35k Race Walk at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this morning (Aug 24th).
Boyce, who was competing in his sixth straight World Championships, thrived in the hot and humid conditions, working his way through the field from the halfway point to make up eight places over the final 15 kilometres to cross in a season’s best time of 2:37:26 SB for 24th place.
It continues a superb run of consistent performances at world level for the Finn Valley athlete, finishing one place ahead of his 25th at the World Championships in Oregon last year.
Today’s 35k Race Walk medals went to Álvaro Martín (ESP) 2:24:30 NR, Brian Daniel Pintado (ECU) 2:24:34 AR, Masatora Kawano, and (JPN) 2:25:12 SB.
Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Mark English (Finn Valley AC) have bowed out of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this evening (Aug 24th).
Fay went in the first round of a stacked men’s 5,000m, finishing in 16th place in a time of 13:42:86.
Speaking to media after the race, the Dubliner, who was with the leading pack until an injection of pace with 600 meters to go, said, “It just didn’t really work out in my favour. I sat in for the first three or four kilometres and then the last kilometre came and I just didn’t have the legs to put myself up there and hold on. It’s disappointing because I’ve proved that I can run fast this season, but I just need to be a little bit more competitive when it comes to the championship races.
“I’ve loads to take from these championships. It’s a learning curve and it’s great to be a part of such a strong field, but I’d hope to be more competitive on the world stage going forward. That’s the goal, but if you’d told me that I’d run at the world championships and break the Irish 5000m record this season, then I’d have to be happy with that. I was expecting more this week, but I’ll look to use the experience and hit the two championships well next year.”
The Raheny athlete has enjoyed a season to remember, highlighted by breaking Alistair Cragg’s long standing Irish 5,000m record with a stunning in 13.01.40 earlier this summer.
Mark English signed off his sixth world championships with his second season’s best of the week, clocking 1:45.14 in the semi-final of the 800m which secured the automatic qualifying time for the European Championships in Rome next year. Unfortunately, the 7th place finish was not enough to advance to Saturday’s final but the Donegal athlete will take much from these championships given his injury interrupted season.
Speaking after the race, he said, “I gave everything I could. It’s a good time and a season’s best. My expectations were to make a semi-final given my preparations and I’ve achieved that so when I reflect on this year, I think I’ll be happy.
These guys are the world’s best for a reason. That’s the toughest world semi I’ve ever experienced so the competition was tough, but I’m looking forward to next year. Ideally, I’d have had a few races leading into these championships but given the preparation I’ve had, I’m happy with how I performed.”
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