London 2012 - should be one of our best ever in terms of athletics representation.

Dan man

With 17 athletes qualified to compete in London (18 with A standards), these Olympics will be one of our best ever in terms of Irish representation. Currently the numbers rank 5th behind Sydney, Atlanta, Barcelona and Seoul in that order. However it is the second highest in terms of women's representation with 10 so far (only behind Sydney where 13 women competed for Ireland). Also it seems that this will be the first Olympics where we will have more women in the athletics team than the men (although there was parity in Beijing).

OLYMPIC YEAR|MEN|WOMEN|TOTAL
Sydney 2000|23|13|36
Atlanta 1996|16|8|24
Barcelona 1992|16|3|19
Seoul 1988|14|4|18
London 2012|7|10|17
Los Angeles 1984|10|7|17
Beijing 2008|8|8|16
Athens 2004|7|6|13
Munich 1972|10|3|13
London 1948|11|0|11
Paris 1924|11|0|11
Amsterdam 1928|10|0|10
Rome 1960|8|1|9
Montreal 1976|6|1|7
Tokyo 1964|6|1|7
Moscow 1980|7|0|7
Mexico 1968|4|0|4
Los Angeles 1932|4|0|4
Melbourne 1956|2|1|3
Helsinki 1952|2|0|2


So what numbers could we see in London 2012 by the close of the qualification period (8th of July)?
In a best case scenario some of the following may add their names to the list of qualifiers by that time: (I have listed those who at least could make it, even if a little unlikely). Most of these may not make the team but at least it shows we can expect to see more athletes joining those 17 already qualified. I've probably overlooked some others too.

Men:

1. Jason Smyth (100m)
2. Steven Colvert (200m)
3. David Gillick (400m)
4. Brian Gregan (400m)
5. Mark English (800m)
6. David McCarthy (800m/1,500m)
7. Paul Robinson (800m) - unlikely but you never know
8. Thomas Chamney (800m/1,500m) - not sure how his prep is going
9. Mark Christie (5,000m)
10. Ben Reynolds (110m Hurdles)
11. Thomas Barr (400m Hurdles)

Women:

1. Ailish McSweeney (100m) - not sure if she can get enough training in though having been laid off from injury for long time.
2. Mary Cullen (5,000m) - haven't heard how her prep is going
3. Ciara Mageean (800m/1,500m)
4. Jessie Barr (400m Hurdles)
5. Roisin McGettigan (3,000m steeplechase) - hard to know what her form will be like having been out of action for a long time
6. Kelly Proper (Long Jump) - not impossible for her to get standard but current form doesn't suggest she will.
7. Laura Reynolds (20km Walk)
8. 4x400m relay team (5 places available)

Looks like the numbers of qualifiers for Atlanta 1996 (24) will be surpassed if the women's 4x400m relay team go on to qualify as expected.

bazman

Definitely take Barry Minnock off list & replace with Mark Kennelly Think there are omissions, but the principal is spot on. I think Irish athletics is in a v good place at the moment - there are so many young talented athletes hitting v serious times ...

thirtyfoot

Colvert, Jessie Barr, Ben Reynolds are the most likely others for me.

Dan man

bazman wrote: »

Definitely take Barry Minnock off list & replace with Mark Kennelly Think there are omissions, but the principal is spot on. I think Irish athletics is in a v good place at the moment - there are so many young talented athletes hitting v serious times ...

Just realised that you are not running Copenhagen now...great run in Hanover by the way. All the best for any future plans.

Dan man

thirtyfoot wrote: »

Colvert, Jessie Barr, Ben Reynolds are the most likely others for me.

Of course, Ben Reynolds, I forgot to include him....previous post edited.

bazman

Dan man wrote: »

Just realised that you are not running Copenhagen now...great run in Hanover by the way. All the best for any future plans.

Misread original post - you haven't included qualifiers. It's nice to be even mentioned in the same sentence as Olympics, but there was some mis-information regarding myself & Copenhagen marathon - even if I run, it will not be to attempt A standard. A 4min PB was a massive run for me in Hannover. It will take time to get another PB ...

Festinatio Cursor

Dan man wrote: »

Paul Robinson (800m) - unlikely but you never know

Is he not a 1500m runner??

Running 3.40 in Febuary I am more inclined to think he is closer to that standard than the 800m

Dan man

Festinatio Cursor wrote: »

Is he not a 1500m runner??

Running 3.40 in Febuary I am more inclined to think he is closer to that standard than the 800m

Indeed he tends to run more 1,500m races but he has a best over 800m of 1:47.31 so I think he has a better chance of getting near the standard in that event. The 1,500m time of 3:35.50mins is a really tough standard, not that the 800m time of 1:45.60mins isn't but you get my point. Both standards are hard but I think there is more chance he could go from 1:47.3 to 1:45.6mins (1.6secs improvement) over 800m this year than 3:40.50 to 3:35.50 over 1,500m (5 seconds improvement). And his 800m time is from last season whereas his 1,500m P.B. is from this year. My point here is that there is a possibility he could go faster over 800m this year than he did last year.

Festinatio Cursor

Dan man wrote: »

Yes he tends to run more 1,500m races but he has a best over 800m of 1:47.xx so I think he has a slightly better chance of getting near the standard in that event. The 1,500m time of 3:35.50mins is a really tough standard, not that the 800m time of 1:45.60mins isn't but you get my point. Both standards are hard but I think there is more chance he could go from 1:47 to 1:45 over 800m this year than 3:40 to 3:35 over 1,500m.

I think the performances are quite comparable if you look to the to the IAAF scoring tables his 1.47.3x is worth 3.40.2x and I think there is more scope for improvement in the 1500m with long term aerobic development

Dan man

Festinatio Cursor wrote: »

I think the performances are quite comparable if you look to the to the IAAF scoring tables his 1.47.3x is worth 3.40.2x and I think there is more scope for improvement in the 1500m with long term aerobic development

Maybe, I'm not disputing that but I just can't see him getting to 3:35.50mins this season over 1,500m. But he improved his best time over 1,500m this year, he hasn't had a 800m race yet as far as I know so he might be able to reduce his PB in that event also. I'm not saying he's a better 800m runner or anything but I'm just looking at his best chance of making the Olympic standard this year. It'll be tough either way, probably the Games have come around a year too soon for him but you never know.

walshb

Dan man wrote: »

With 17 athletes qualified to compete in London (18 with A standards), these Olympics will be one of our best ever in terms of Irish representation. .

Is this correct? You say 17 have qualified. Then say 18 with A standard. Can you explain that to me. Is A standard the top, as in Bolt? B standard are athletes that won't compete at the top?

ecoli

walshb wrote: »

Is this correct? You say 17 have qualified. Then say 18 with A standard. Can you explain that to me. Is A standard the top, as in Bolt? B standard are athletes that won't compete at the top?

The womens marathon has 4 women with the A qualifying standard for Olympics but each country is only able to send three athletes meaning that one of the Girls will not be able to run despite having the qualification time

A National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter up to 3 qualified athletes in each individual event if all athletes meet the A standard, or 1 athlete per event if they meet the B standard. An NOC may also enter a maximum of 1 qualified relay team per event. NOCs may enter athletes regardless of time (1 athlete per sex) if they have no athletes meeting the qualifying A or B standards.

The qualifying time standards were obtained in various meets during the qualifying period that have the approval of the IAAF, all approved outdoor meets and indoor meets with the exception of 100m, 200m and 110/100m hurdles races are eligible. The qualifying period for the 10,000m, marathon, walks and combined events is from Jan 1, 2011 to July 8, 2012, for all other individual events it is May 1, 2011 to July 8, 2012. Relay qualification is between Jan 1, 2011 to July 2, 2012.

In addition to the qualifying standards below, marathon runners finishing in the top 20 of the 2011 World Championships or in the top 10 of any IAAF gold series marathon within the qualification period are also treated as having earned the A standard.[1] IAAF Qualifying Standards are as follows:[2][3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Qualification

walshb

ecoli wrote: »

The womens marathon has 4 women with the A qualifying standard for Olympics but each country is only able to send three athletes meaning that one of the Girls will not be able to run despite having the qualification time



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Qualification

Thanks. I went to wikipedia and counted up 19 with A standard, yes, the 4 from marathon, with 3 to be selected. So, 19-1 is 18.

ecoli

walshb wrote: »

Thanks. I went to wikipedia and counted up 19 with A standard, yes, the 4 from marathon, with 3 to be selected. So, 19-1 is 18.

Women's Marathon (Linda Byrne; Ava Hutchinson; Maria McCambridge; Caitriona Jennings)
Men's 50km Walk (Robert Heffernan; Brendan Boyce; Colin Griffin)
Women's 3,000 m steeplechase (Fionnuala Britton; Stephanie Reilly)
Men's 200 m (Paul Hession)
Men's 1,500 m (Ciarán O'Lionaird)
Men's 5,000 m (Alistair Cragg)
Men's Marathon (Mark Kenneally)
Men's 20 km race walk (Robert Heffernan)
Women's 10,000 m (Fionnuala Britton)
Women's 100 m hurdles (Derval O'Rourke)
Women's 400 m (Joanne Cuddihy)
Women's high jump (Deirdre Ryan)
Women's pole vault (Tori Pena)
Women's 20 km race walk (Olive Loughnane)

Heffernan and Britton have qualfied in 2 events which may have been where the extra number came from only 18 different athletes however so far

Dan man

walshb wrote: »

Thanks. I went to wikipedia and counted up 19 with A standard, yes, the 4 from marathon, with 3 to be selected. So, 19-1 is 18.

Ah sure wikipedia would have us believe at one stage that the Vatican were to take part in the Olympics for the first time in 2012... if i remember that amusing article correctly they were down to compete in beach volleyball and men's artistic gymnastics amongst other sports!

We have 18 so far with A standards but for the reasons that ecoli outlined only 17 of those will be selected.

tHE vAGGABOND

I wonder if any of the 4 ladies qualified for the marathon are looking at the 5k or 10k and maybe getting the time there, shame for one of them to miss out. I guess now we know how the Kenyan's feel!

Do any of them have a PB within 5k/10k qualifying ball park?

Dan man

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

I wonder if any of the 4 ladies qualified for the marathon are looking at the 5k or 10k and maybe getting the time there, shame for one of them to miss out. I guess now we know how the Kenyan's feel!

Do any of them have a PB within 5k/10k qualifying ball park?

Not really any chance for them on the track, Maria of course has a 5k PB that is well inside the required time but that is going way back pre Athens 2004. Unfortunately there's going to be heartbreak for one of the girls.

shels4ever

Dan man wrote: »

Not really any chance for them on the track, Maria of course has a 5k PB that is well inside the required time but that is going way back pre Athens 2004. Unfortunately there's going to be heartbreak for one of the girls.

Yep, who ever gets left out could end up running a 10,000m in the euros if they get the standard but thats a poor second best prize.

Pisco Sour

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

I wonder if any of the 4 ladies qualified for the marathon are looking at the 5k or 10k and maybe getting the time there, shame for one of them to miss out. I guess now we know how the Kenyan's feel!

Do any of them have a PB within 5k/10k qualifying ball park?

None of them have a hope of getting even close to the standard. That's the long and short of it. It's sad for the girl who misses out, but this happens in almost every country in the world. Sure there are about 200 Kenyans with Olympic Marathon A-Standards who wont get to go to London.

Only Britton, and maybe Cullen (if she was fit) could hit the 5000 and 10000 standards right now.

ecoli

Maria McCambridge hit the Euro 10k euro qualifying time last night in a time of 33.22 - edit: mixed race so time wont count for qualification

TFBubendorfer

04072511 wrote: »

Sure there are about 200 Kenyans with Olympic Marathon A-Standards who wont get to go to London.

278 men and 61 women back in March.
Puts the Irish problem into context.

PainIsTemporary

ecoli wrote: »

Maria McCambridge hit the Euro 10k euro qualifying time last night in a time of 33.22

She's just under the AAI B-Standard of 33:25 for the European Championships. Needs a 32:36 for the A-Standard. Great run though.

AAI Standards for European Track and Field Championships: http://hp.athleticsireland.ie/images/spolicy/2012/EC/12_EuropeanChampsF_150512.pdf

ecoli

PainIsTemporary wrote: »

She's just under the AAI B-Standard of 33:25 for the European Championships. Needs a 32:36 for the A-Standard. Great run though.

AAI Standards for European Track and Field Championships: http://hp.athleticsireland.ie/images/spolicy/2012/EC/12_EuropeanChampsF_150512.pdf

Kinda crazy to have B standards for this considering our B standards are the set standard for the EAA (no B standards) Surely with the year thats in it we should be trying to use the Euro's for development of younger athletes and fringe runners

http://www.european-athletics.org/files/ech/Entry-Standards-Final2012.pdf

PainIsTemporary

ecoli wrote: »

PainIsTemporary wrote: »

She's just under the AAI B-Standard of 33:25 for the European Championships. Needs a 32:36 for the A-Standard. Great run though.

AAI Standards for European Track and Field Championships: http://hp.athleticsireland.ie/images/spolicy/2012/EC/12_EuropeanChampsF_150512.pdf

Kinda crazy to have B standards for this considering our B standards are the set standard for the EAA (no B standards) Surely with the year thats in it we should be trying to use the Euro's for development of younger athletes and fringe runners

http://www.european-athletics.org/files/ech/Entry-Standards-Final2012.pdf

Whole heartedly agree!

Dan man

ecoli wrote: »

Kinda crazy to have B standards for this considering our B standards are the set standard for the EAA (no B standards) Surely with the year thats in it we should be trying to use the Euro's for development of younger athletes and fringe runners

http://www.european-athletics.org/files/ech/Entry-Standards-Final2012.pdf

Totally agree, I thought they made the point that the Olympics was not the place to gain experience rather it should be gained at events such as the European Championships....in a way I can see this rationale but why then should they also restrict entries for this event too?