National Track and Field 2016 thread

Chivito550

So the nationals are upon us again, at the much earlier time than usual, with the European Championships taking place from 6-10 July, and the Olympics one month later.

Not great timing given the clash with Euro 2016, and more specifically the Ireland V France match on Sunday at 2pm, but for those interested in attending, don't let that stop you. Clonliffe Harriers AC will be showing the game in their clubhouse.

Some good stuff to look forward to. Thomas Barr and Mark English make their season debuts in the 400m hurdles and 800m respectably and it will be interesting to see what sort of shape they are in given their injury problems.

The men's 400m looks hugely competitive, even if the standard is lower than we would have hoped. Craig Lynch is arguably the favourite with Gregan running poorly this season, and David Gillick is entered for it (along with the 200m) so hopefully he takes his place over his specialised event.

For those who can't make it there will be live stream with commentary from the depths of hell on both days:

Day 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BDnFRNA7c0

Day 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv_UoQJEokY

There's a more detailed preview of all the events here:

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/irelands-best-athletes-to-star-at-glohealth-nationals/

So who's competing or attending? Who are you looking forward to seeing the most?

KielyUnusual

I'll be running in the 1500m Heats today. Pretty excited about that and of course a little nervous.

Excellent field in the 10.000m today, so looking forward to watching that. Other than that the 800 and the 1500 would be the main points of interest for me. Disappointing that they didn't alter the schedule to have a few hours break for the Irish match. Was looking forward to going out and watching the events on Sunday but it will probably be the highlights package for me now.

Chivito550

KielyUnusual wrote: »

I'll be running in the 1500m Heats today. Pretty excited about that and of course a little nervous.

Excellent field in the 10.000m today, so looking forward to watching that. Other than that the 800 and the 1500 would be the main points of interest for me. Disappointing that they didn't alter the schedule to have a few hours break for the Irish match. Was looking forward to going out and watching the events on Sunday but it will probably be the highlights package for me now.

Spare a thought for those who's races clash with the match! Originally the heats of the 200 and 100 were scheduled for Saturday with both finals on Sunday. They've since changed it so that heats and final of 200 is sat, and heats and final of 100 is Sunday. My 100m heat will be between 3pm and 3:15pm, so I'll probably just get the last half hour of normal time.

Krusty_Clown

3,000SC was a fantastic race. Hats off to Chesser for committing completely and front-running from the first lap, and having the strength to hold off the final onslaught. Really enjoying the feed/commentary.

Chivito550

The 400m heats were absolutely stacked. Brian Murphy and Timmy Crowe didn't even make the final. Definitely the event with the most depth right now in Ireland. Looks like anyone from 4 or 5 could win it tomorrow. Gillick looked very comfortable in his heat. Gregan and Lynch will have their work cut out.

tang1

Did English go today in the 800m? Can't find a timetable of events.

Chivito550

tang1 wrote: »

Did English go today in the 800m? Can't find a timetable of events.

Results here:

http://www.athleticsirelandenterprises.com/results_25062016/schedule.html

Live feed in the OP. You can rewind back to earlier races too. English cruised to 1:55. This weekend won't tell us much about what shape he is in.

Murph_D

English won his 800 heat. Results here: http://www.athleticsirelandenterprises.com/results_25062016/event009h01.html

Chivito550

Two super 400m races there. Gregan just held off Craig Lynch and David Gillick with a 46.28. The first 6 runners were under 47, in far from ideal conditions. In the women's Sinead Denny pipped Phil Healy in the final 15 metres or so.

karkar athlete

How'd you get on today James in the 100m?

Wind changed from yesterday and unfortunately there was a headwind down the home straight which wasn't conductive to fast sprint times....

However things were better today without the long delays - 45 minutes between end of warm up and getting to run yesterday. Legs would not move was an understatement, taking 3 seconds off yesterday's time says a lot!

Chivito550

karkar athlete wrote: »

How'd you get on today James in the 100m?

Wind changed from yesterday and unfortunately there was a headwind down the home straight which wasn't conductive to fast sprint times....

However things were better today without the long delays - 45 minutes between end of warm up and getting to run yesterday. Legs would not move was an understatement, taking 3 seconds off yesterday's time says a lot!

Ran 12.71. Conditions were a bit crap. -1.1 headwind, and track was wet and conditions quite heavy. Solid enough. Not my best run, but not bad either. Lost to a lad I beat at Leinsters which I'm not happy with but he did seem to step it up. Was happier with my 200 yesterday.

How'd the 400 hurdles final go for you today? I caught a glimpse of it during my warm up jog but didn't get to see it properly.

karkar athlete

The headwind changed a few things alright - it's something I have got used to in Santry except the National Combined Events and yesterday was the first in a long while to have a following wind in the home straight! Also I find there's not as much spring from the track in Santry when it's wet either. It also holds the water, doesn't drain too well!

They were much better than yesterday. I was so stiff and not able to run at all really primarily finishing warm up at about 3:20 yesterday and not running until 4:10/4:15 between call room and delays etc. Standing with gear off behind blocks for a good 10 mins didn't help. But today was an improvement and PB although I think it was only my 7th time running the 400mH as it's something I am trying this year...unfortunately I was the rabbit in lane 8 but hurdle technique needs to be tidied a bit - onto U/23's next weekend. Bit weird being the oldest in the field though at 22!

Chivito550

karkar athlete wrote: »

The headwind changed a few things alright - it's something I have got used to in Santry except the National Combined Events and yesterday was the first in a long while to have a following wind in the home straight! Also I find there's not as much spring from the track in Santry when it's wet either. It also holds the water, doesn't drain too well!

They were much better than yesterday. I was so stiff and not able to run at all really primarily finishing warm up at about 3:20 yesterday and not running until 4:10/4:15 between call room and delays etc. Standing with gear off behind blocks for a good 10 mins didn't help. But today was an improvement and PB although I think it was only my 7th time running the 400mH as it's something I am trying this year...unfortunately I was the rabbit in lane 8 but hurdle technique needs to be tidied a bit - onto U/23's next weekend. Bit weird being the oldest in the field though at 22!

Yeh that was absolute madness what you guys had to go through yesterday. I watched it back on the live feed later to see what was happening. It was odd that none of you guys were doing strides to keep warm. It was all very strange.

Great experience running in a national final. Great for the event to have heats this year too, even in Christine and Jessie's absence, because it's usually just a straight final. Are you specialising in the 400 hurdles?

karkar athlete

Yesterday was ridiculous alright - I didn't want to stride out as I knew well I'd only get going and they would then call us on our marks but it didn't happen. We weren't told what was going on or that there was such a delay. The second heat was also delayed for a while aswell!

I managed the 400m final a few years ago...but the standards of the young youths and juniors coming through is unbelievable! I am not sure to be honest - not fast enough for 400m at the moment but an able to hurdle on both legs (thanks to 4 strides in the 100mH) so have gave them ago! Currently prefer them to 400m as there is something to think about in the race!

Chivito550

karkar athlete wrote: »

Yesterday was ridiculous alright - I didn't want to stride out as I knew well I'd only get going and they would then call us on our marks but it didn't happen. We weren't told what was going on or that there was such a delay. The second heat was also delayed for a while aswell!

I managed the 400m final a few years ago...but the standards of the young youths and juniors coming through is unbelievable! I am not sure to be honest - not fast enough for 400m at the moment but an able to hurdle on both legs (thanks to 4 strides in the 100mH) so have gave them ago! Currently prefer them to 400m as there is something to think about in the race!

The 400 hurdles has to be the toughest event out there. All the pain of the 400 with 10 awful barriers on top of it all. I've never got myself together to give it a try!

Speaking of hurdles, Thomas Barr won today in 50.2. Looks like he plans to race himself into shape. I'd imagine he'll head to Europeans.

Sacksian

Really enjoyed the men's 1500m and 5k today. Lots of people involved on the final lap dust-up in both, so they were interesting races to watch. It was disappointing for Siofra CB that she didn't have a bit more competition in the 800, especially as we actually do have a few women who could have helped her to the time she was looking for. The women's 1500 suffered a bit due to a lack of competition too. Although I think the men's 400 was probably one of the few events where all the main contenders turned up, and it produced a good race.

Murph_D

TV coverage was OK. George Hamilton being at Euro 2016 helps. Still mystified why RTE can't superimpose clock time though. Basic technology, I would have thought.

karkar athlete

Not sure why it had to be on so late though - I understand the Ireland match but I don't understand why both Leinster GAA Semi-Finals got full tv coverage and athletics are given a small one hour slot at 11:30pm twice a year!

It could have been on earlier in the evening as even on early listings without the Ireland match it was set for 23:30. If I remember correctly they live streamed from Athlone for the National Seniors couple of years ago....

Murph_D

I'd imagine that like all commercial TV (RTE has to follow a commercial imperative, even more so now than in the past, despite the license fee) it's ratings-driven. More viewer demand = prime time slot = more advertising revenue = more resources allocated. So GAA at early slot, local athletics at the margins.

Chivito550

Murph_D wrote: »

I'd imagine that like all commercial TV (RTE has to follow a commercial imperative, even more so now than in the past, despite the license fee) it's ratings-driven. More viewer demand = prime time slot = more advertising revenue = more resources allocated. So GAA at early slot, local athletics at the margins.

To be fair, the RTE highlights show is usually on at around 8pm. It's Euro 2016 that has thrown everything out of whack this year, with Nationals being early in the season and so clashing with them. It will be back to prime time next year.

karkar athlete

I am aware of that but I am sure many more people may have watched it should it have been on after the news etc.

But having seen early TV listings for RTE prior to the Ireland match being shown the athletics highlights were still scheduled for 11:30pm.

Also was it last year that the highlights were due to be at 8 or so and due to technical difficulties it was shown much later into the evening?

Murph_D

karkar athlete wrote: »

I am aware of that but I am sure many more people may have watched it should it have been on after the news etc.

But having seen early TV listings for RTE prior to the Ireland match being shown the athletics highlights were still scheduled for 11:30pm.

Also was it last year that the highlights were due to be at 8 or so and due to technical difficulties it was shown much later into the evening?

Well yes, more people would have watched, but more people would also have switched channel, saying, "Oh, I thought the GAA would be on..."

Those "technical difficulties" tend to follow from a lack of resources allocated. Fewer people, fewer (and less experienced) video editors, etc.

It's a shame alright. But you can see from the coverage that there isn't a lot of spending on the production. Not enough cameras for instance. Presenters standing in the infield under a canvas gazebo. Good presenters though, I thought.

Chivito550

Threw up a report on my experience competing at Nationals for anyone interested. The event as a whole felt strange this year being so early in the season.