Athletics Ireland team for Moscow

the_real_lamp

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=33956.

11 going to Moscow. Small enough team. Rob Heffernan prob carries only medal hope.
Interesting to see how English and Gregan go.

dna_leri

Although it's disappointing not to have the likes of O'Rourke, Gillick, O'Lionaird, etc on a major championship team, it is good to see such a young team. It's a pity to see no hurdlers going, given the amount of emerging talent. I hope those picked all have something left in the tank at the end of the season and we get some good PBs.

Pisco Sour

A Pity Ben Reynolds isn't going. He has the B Standard.

TRR

great to see Robinson get the nod!

Pisco Sour

Smallest team I can recall for a major championship. Just 5 athletes on the track in just 2 events, and 1 field athlete. If they can all progress from the heats, and Pena to the final then it will be a success.

Rob definitely the only shot at a medal of course.

Difficult year. It doesn't help when our top athletes are injured, and with quite a few retirements post London.

ChickenTikka

800m rankings don't seem to carry through all that well to major championships. On the IAAF lists, Mark English is ranked 26th and 1.5% behind the leading time.

On the IAAF results for last 6 WC, his time would have taken a medal in 3 of them ... following is the bronze medal time:-

2011 1.44.49
2009 1.45.35
2007 1.47.39
2005 1.44.55
2003 1.44.90
2001 1.44.63

The following is where the above medal winning times would have placed in the official rankings the same year:-

2011 1.44.49 17th
2009 1.45.35 25th
2007 1.47.39 not in top 50
2005 1.44.55 15th
2003 1.44.90 18th
2001 1.44.63 22nd

With just 1.5 seconds separating the top 26 800m runners in the rankings, I don't think we can dismiss his chances of a medal in a tactical race. In the right race, anything can happen.

Letyourselfgo

I think Robinson is going to run a cracker. I think he mis timed his finish at the Morton games, gave himself too much to do and although nationals was slowly run he finished really well and as fresh as a daisy. I can see him bettering his PB anyway.

Pisco Sour

ChickenTikka wrote: »

800m rankings don't seem to carry through all that well to major championships. On the IAAF lists, Mark English is ranked 26th and 1.5% behind the leading time.

On the IAAF results for last 6 WC, his time would have taken a medal in 3 of them ... following is the bronze medal time:-

2011 1.44.49
2009 1.45.35
2007 1.47.39
2005 1.44.55
2003 1.44.90
2001 1.44.63

The following is where the above medal winning times would have placed in the official rankings the same year:-

2011 1.44.49 17th
2009 1.45.35 25th
2007 1.47.39 not in top 50
2005 1.44.55 15th
2003 1.44.90 18th
2001 1.44.63 22nd

With just 1.5 seconds separating the top 26 800m runners in the rankings, I don't think we can dismiss his chances of a medal in a tactical race. In the right race, anything can happen.

There around 10 Americans ahead of him, only 3 of whom can travel so that puts him 18th/19th at least. Having said that let's not be getting carried away. One race at a time. He has to get out of the heat first.