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McCormack Finishes Marathon Inside Top 10

Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole AC) has finished ninth in the Women’s Marathon on Day Two of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Competing in searing heat and humidity, the Wicklow woman who turns 41 later this month gradually pushed up through the field to cross the line in 2:30.16. The finishing position is the highest McCormack has ever achieved at a global major championship.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” McCormack told Athletics Ireland afterwards. “I didn’t realise until David Gillick told me that I had came ninth, it’s nice to get into the top ten…I picked off as many people as I could and everyone who I could see in front of me I think I caught. There wasn’t a whole lot more I could do out there.”

There was a breakthrough performance in the Women’s Hammer Throw for Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) who qualified for her first global final. The 21-year-old Cork native threw a best of 70.70 metres to finish sixth in Qualification Group A, leaving her with a nervous two hour wait before her place in the top twelve was confirmed.

It was a good morning also for Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC), the Limerick woman sealing her place in the semi-finals of the Women’s 100m Hurdles by finishing third in her heat in 12.94 seconds.

“That was less than perfect,” Lavin admitted. “I’m surprised that time automatically qualifies, but if you look at everyone’s times, they’re all a bit down. You can bring whatever to a championship, but you’ve got to deliver in the moment, it’s like the Leaving Cert!”

“My strength is the second half of my race and that’s my main positive to take from today. I didn’t panic and I came through, I’m grateful that’s there. Now I need to get the first half right,” she added.

Elsewhere, Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) advanced to the semi-finals of the Men’s 1500m by finishing sixth in his heat in 3:37.32.

“I’m happy out,” he said. “I cut it fine going through in sixth, but I suppose you just have to come in the top six and no higher. I’m through to the semi-finals and I’m happy with my performance.”

There was disappointment for Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) who failed to advance in the same event, the Dubliner running out of steam in the closing lap to finish 12^th in 3:42.60.

Gidey Secures Top 20 as Healy Heads for 1500m Final

It was a dramatic day two at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo for Team Ireland with highlights including Efrem Gidey’s top-20 placing in the men’s 10,000m which was preceded by Sarah Healy’s qualification for Tuesday’s 1500m final.

Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) battled hot and humid conditions to cross in 19^th place in the men’s 10,000m final in a time of 29:30.37. The Clonliffe athlete stayed with the leading pack up until the 8,000m mark when an injection of pace saw him drift back through the field.

The medals went the way of Jimmy Gressier (Fra) 28:55.77, Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 28:55.83, and Andreas Almgren (Swe) 28:56.02.

Sarah Healy (UCD AC) secured her place in Tuesday’s 1500m final in dramatic fashion with the European indoor champion initially being awarded seventh place in 4:08.78, with only the leading six athletes from each semi-final progressing. The UCD athlete was right in contention with 400 meters to go but lost all her momentum when clipped as the sprint for home got underway at the bell.

Healy would subsequently be awarded sixth and a place in the final on the back of the disqualification of Italy’s Marta Zenoni*. Tuesday’s 1500m final is set for 2.05pm Irish time.

Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) was also in action in the 1500m semi-finals, rounding out a hugely positive championship to finish 12^th in her race.  The Ballymore Cobh athlete endured a tough outing on the back of her four-second season’s best in yesterday’s heats, crossing in 4:18.18 which was not enough to progress.

Sharlene Mawdsley safely secured her place in the semi-finals of the 400m. The Newport AC athlete finished fourth in her heat to progress as a fastest non-automatic qualifier in a time of 51.04q. Mawdsley will be back for the semi-final on Tuesday afternoon (1.05pm).

It was sixth place for Sophie Becker in the final of the 400m heats with the Raheny athlete missing out on progressing to the semi-finals on the back of her 52.19. Becker will now turn attention to the women’s 4x400m relay on Saturday.

Day three promises to be a big day for the Irish in Tokyo with Peter Lynch and Hiko Tonosa leading the charge in the men’s marathon in the early hours of Monday morning. Lynch and Tonosa hold the top two spots on Ireland’s all-time marathon list and there is sure to be little to separate them once more as they navigate the 26.2 miles through the streets of Tokyo.

Nicola Tuthill will be back in action in the hammer final, while Sarah Lavin will return to the blocks for the semi-final of a stacked women’s 100m hurdles. Andrew Coscroan will look to make it back-to-back global finals in the semi final of the men’s 1500m following his sixth place at the World indoors (3000m) back in March.

Team Ireland Results Summary

Day Two – Morning Session – Sunday September 14^th

• Fionnuala McCormack – Women’s Marathon – Final – 2:30:16 (9^th)
• Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw – Qualification Group A – 70.70m q (6^th, 12^th overall)
• Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m – Heat 2/4 – 3:42.60 (12^th, fails to advance)
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Heat 4/4 – 3:37.32 Q (6^th)
• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Heat 1/6 – 12.94 Q (3^rd)

Day Two – Evenings Session – Sunday September 14^th

• Sharlene Mawdsley – Women’s 400m – Heat 3 – 4^th in 51.04q
• Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m – Heat 6 – 6^th in 52.19 (37^th overall)
• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – SF 1 – 12^th in 4:18.18 (22^nd overall)
• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – SF 2 – 6^th in 4:08.78Q
• Efrem Gidey – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 19^th overall in 29:30.37

*Italian appeal pending at time of release