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10th
June 2010Smyth to Star in
Antrim Track/Field Weekend
Double Header!
Antrim will be the venue this weekend for
a top class double header of athletics action with tomorrows
NI/Ulster Senor and U18/U20 Track and Field championships
followed on Sunday by Round 1 of the prestigious National
League.
Local athletics will be centrally involved
on both days with medals the Saturday targets for the likes
of sprinter Jason Smyth and 400 Hurdler Tom Carey, while Sundays
priority is points in the bank in the Inter Club National
League where the City of Derry mens squad make their Premier
Division debut.
Double Paralympic sprint gold medallist Jason Smyth posted
excellent 100m/200m clockings at his recent Florida training
camp and may well be ready to challange the NI native 100m
record of 10.35s held by Paul Brizzel,a former Irish Olympic
sprinter. The Spartan clocked 10.41 s in the States last month
and an even more impressive 21.09s for 200m and with a Commonwealth
Games place,plus a cash incentive up for grabs--and weather
conditions permitting--who knows what might happen tomorrow.
Tom Carey seems to have shaken off an niggling injury which
hampered his recent training and travels from his English
base in search of a fast 400m Hurdles race at the championships.
The big lad has ambitions to crack the Irish record and perhaps
stake a claim for a Commonwealth Games spot so like Smyth
he will be glad of favourable weather.
Simon Herron,another recent injury victim may take his chances
in the High and Triple Jumps,deciding on the day just how
much he can handle,mindful that he will be needed again on
Sunday for National League duties with the Spartans. Gregory
Roberts goes in the 5000m,buoyed up by a recent 3000mPB in
Dublin of 8m45s and will be keen to see how he measures up
in what should be a classy twelve and a half lapper. Pajo
Hamilton will move up for his first championship 1500m,seekng
at least a PB run!
Sundays National League will pose a serious challange for
the Spartans mens squad.Jason Smyth is unlikely to be available
and Saturdays efforts will be an issue for back to back demands.However
Ciaron Craig and Rudi Moore will lend their considerable multi
event abilities to the team effort.Guest athlete,Mid Ulster
long Jumper Adam McMullam will be a valuable addition and
Carey,Roberts Hamilton,Herron plus the supporting mix of youth
and experience should form a decent points scoring machine.
The female Spartans will do battle once again in Division1
of the Womens competition and with another mix of youth and
experience they have targeted enough points to make the top
eight qualifiers for the League Final in August. Their Round
2 match ,like the Men,should be in Dublin so a good start
this weekend this essential for both squads.
Gerry Lynch 9/6/10
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