Womens 4*400 for Euro Indoors

myflipflops

Good news for the women competing for places, pity the men don't get there.

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=5495#more-5495


Irish Women’s 4×400m team to compete in Turin - Mary Cullen Wins Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month for December

In a great boost to the reinvigoration of Ireland’s relay teams which saw serious attempts by both the men’s and women’s 4×400m teams to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, the women’s team has been invited to compete in the upcoming European Indoor Championships in Turin.

Only 6 teams are due to compete and participation is by invitation only. The other teams due to take part are Russia, Belarus, Great Britain, Greece and Lithuania. On the basis of times achieved in 2008, there is little to choose for fourth fastest between Ireland, Greece and Lithuania which potentially makes for an interesting race.

This news will also give increased interest to the women’s 400m in the upcoming National Indoor Championships in The Odyssey on February 7th and 8th where there will be an opportunity for strong performances to catch the eye of the selectors.

thirtyfoot

pwhite587 wrote: »

Good news for the women competing for places, pity the men don't get there.

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=5495#more-5495


Irish Women’s 4×400m team to compete in Turin - Mary Cullen Wins Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month for December

In a great boost to the reinvigoration of Ireland’s relay teams which saw serious attempts by both the men’s and women’s 4×400m teams to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, the women’s team has been invited to compete in the upcoming European Indoor Championships in Turin.

Only 6 teams are due to compete and participation is by invitation only. The other teams due to take part are Russia, Belarus, Great Britain, Greece and Lithuania. On the basis of times achieved in 2008, there is little to choose for fourth fastest between Ireland, Greece and Lithuania which potentially makes for an interesting race.

This news will also give increased interest to the women’s 400m in the upcoming National Indoor Championships in The Odyssey on February 7th and 8th where there will be an opportunity for strong performances to catch the eye of the selectors.

Thats good news. However, looking at the fastest last year - Cuddihy, Carey or Shinkins are very unlikely to run. This leaves Furlong and Andrews and them maybe a batch at 56 secs outdoors. Would you send a team without the big 3? I would from an experience perspective. Make a decision now that they are going and say top 5 in Belfast will go to Turin.

Rineanna

Good news, but very interesting. What sort of a team can we muster? I'm guessing Joanne Cuddihy is unavailable as she attempts to recuperate (that's just a guess), and probably wouldn't be running indoors anyway. Michelle Carey tends to favour early season outdoor races in OZ and the U.S, but may be tempted to compete. Karen Shinkins is training hard, according to her blog, but aimed at pace-making, so don't know if she'll be ready. And I'm guessing place no.4, depending on teh national championships, will be Marian Andrews. None of those are 100% available, though.

There could be a bronze medal up for grabs, however. Russia will more than likely run away with it, with Zykina and that other Russian who did a 1-2 with her at the World Indoors, competing. Belarus usually have the deadly Usovich sisters in their team, even if they're not competing individually. However, GBR mighten't be as strong as 2007. I doubt Nicola Sanders is defending her crown or looking at the indoor season at all; The Big O is only racing indoors in Birmingham; Not sure regarding Lee McConnell's status, and Marilyn Okoro or Kelly Sotherton will probably be on the tream with the likes of Vicky Barr. Not a rock solid team by any means. Now that Fani Halkia's been busted, Greece are no force in the 4*4, and Lithuania and ourselves are pretty much well matched.

It all depends if our big guns can be tempted to even just run the relay.

myflipflops

Rineanna wrote: »

I'm guessing Joanne Cuddihy is unavailable as she attempts to recuperate (that's just a guess), and probably wouldn't be running indoors anyway.

I was wondering the same thing. My guess is that she certainly won't run (even if fully fit) as she has stated in the past that running indoors doesn't suit her running style and she won't want to be risking another injury.

Rineanna wrote: »

There could be a bronze medal up for grabs

I have to disagree here - even with a full strength team we'd be an big outsider to pick up a medal. It looks like a chance on paper with only 6 teams but a nation like Belarus would have a very strong team compared to us (4 women running 53.1 or quicker inddors in 2008). You're probably looking at 2 baton drops to give us a shout of bronze.

Rineanna

pwhite587 wrote: »

I was wondering the same thing. My guess is that she certainly won't run (even if fully fit) as she has stated in the past that running indoors doesn't suit her running style and she won't want to be risking another injury.

Yeah, the indoor tracks don't lend themselves too well to tall athletes like her.

pwhite wrote:

I have to disagree here - even with a full strength team we'd be an big outsider to pick up a medal. It looks like a chance on paper with only 6 teams but a nation like Belarus would have a very strong team compared to us (4 women running 53.1 or quicker inddors in 2008). You're probably looking at 2 baton drops to give us a shout of bronze.

Sorry, let me clarify - I'm pretty certain Belarus and Russia will share the Gold and Silver between them. I was focusing on the bronze specifically, perhaps rather optimistically. GBR, even with a second string squad, would probably still be favourites, but Greece and Lithuania are certainly nothing to be overly worried about, and, as you point out, there's always the chance of baton drops, lane infringements and DQ's which have been prevalent in these Championships previously. Clutching at straws, perhaps, but it ain't out of the realms of possibility (at least in my mind!).

Fish'n'Chips

Looking at the European lists from last year it's a pity more of the men's teams wouldn't take the option not to take up the invite because I think the Irish team from last year would be competitive - they ran 3:04.43 without Brian Gregan who I think if had run would have pushed the team into the 3:03's. Also, you can be almost sure teams like Russia, GB and France wouldn't have full strength teams.

I'm not so sure it would be a good idea to send a women's team with Cuddihy, Carey and Shinkins missing. I think you need to be within a certain range to gain from experience and I don't think 56 second runners should be representing Ireland at a Championship like that. If a team like that went out and took a serious beating way back the field it would call into question future support/image of Irish relay teams.

cfitz

FishnChips wrote: »

I'm not so sure it would be a good idea to send a women's team with Cuddihy, Carey and Shinkins missing. I think you need to be within a certain range to gain from experience and I don't think 56 second runners should be representing Ireland at a Championship like that. If a team like that went out and took a serious beating way back the field it would call into question future support/image of Irish relay teams.

People say these kind of things fairly often but I don't understand it. If Ireland are due to play Brazil in soccer and our best players are injured nobody calls for the FAI to forfeit the game just coz we're going to lose. I don't think a poor performance on the world stage has a significantly worse effect on the support/image of Irish relay teams than no performance at all does.

In my mind, sending people to big championships is very productive, and the only time we should possibly not send the best team available is if there is a guarantee that the money saved will be spent on something more productive (as in exact details not just suggestions that it should be spend on something else).

thirtyfoot

There is a possibility that Shinkins may be available to run in the Euros. Would have some vital experience to what would probably be an inexperienced team if the selectors decide to send a team.