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Deirdre Ryan doubled over. |
NINE ATHLETES HAVE A STANDARD
Others with London 2012 qualifying marks include: high jumper Deirdre Ryan, who finished 6th at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea, with a new Irish record of 1.95.
Race walkers Robert Heffernan, 2nd in the 50km at Naumberg Germany last month in 3 hours 49 minutes 30 seconds and Brendan Boyce in 3:57.58 are also inside the A standard marks.
So too are both Fionnuala Britton 9:37.60 and Stephanie O’Reilly 9:42.91 in the women's 3000m steeplechase, Ciaran O Lionard in the 1500m with 3:34.46, Alistair Cragg 5000m with 13:03.53, Olive Loughnane with a time of 1 hr 31 mins 55 secs for the 20km walk and Paul Hession with 20.51 for 200m. That makes nine athletes in total.
Inside the B standard are marathon runners Mark Keneally 2 hrs 17 mins 22 secs and Sean Connolly 2 hrs 17 mins 23 secs; sprinter Jason Smyth 10.22 for 100m, 400m runner Joanne Cuddihy 51.82, 1500m runner Ciara Mageean 4:07.47 and pole vaulter Tori Pena 4.40. That's a further six.
There's also a strong possibility that at least one relay team will qualify - the top 16 in the rankings for both men and women's 4x100m and 4x400m will make it.