Athlete funding

Ceepo

https://twitter.com/ianoriordan/status/1757525379433050495?t=nxYdgChHlqFsGkfdVHOgIA&s=19

So the current funding has been announced for athletics. From my (bad) memory these amounts have been in place for a long number of years, is it time that the amounts be raised in line with current inflation.?

What are peoples thoughts.?

Should Griggs have got on the list.? Or anyone else for that matter warrant inclusion?

I know there is a criteria set out, and individual athletes have to meet that in order to qualify.

Just a bit of though provoking for the day 😀

Duanington

One marathoner on the list ? Our marathoners are in a funny place at the moment, it looked like there were a whole gang of them on the verge of making breakthroughs to the next level a couple of years back but that seems to have dried up or at least be on hold.

The amounts definitely look a little paltry compared to how they looked a few years back, I know some other sports have already adjusted their funding to allow for inflation etc

bucketybuck

If thats the funding that these athletes get from Government, I assume everything else has to be covered by sponsorship or personal fundraising then?

Travel costs going to various meets and races must be substantial, hard to know how any world class athlete could afford it.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770797#Comment_121770797

You could say same for Womens 800metres.

As for Griggs - I guess if you ignore his age and look at form alone - its probably marginal. Does being young count for something here? Could make same argument for Sophie O'Sullivan probably.

I'm surprised Mark English is Podium and ranked same as Mageean and Adeleke. TBH these two are very clearly out on their own, as far as Irish athletes go. After that, Coscoran & Lavin are probably the ones I would see as contenders for olympic finals.

Delighted to see Efrem Gidey here, I see him out running all the time.

Pherekydes

O'Sullivan is indeed there, at the very bottom. As is Sharlene Mawdsley.

Surprised at English getting top dollar. I guess a European medal is enough.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771411#Comment_121771411

I'm not quite up to date with the current criteria, but at one stage it was, top 8 at Euro and top 16 at World's. I also think that if you received it, it would be for 2 year's.

The double ** on the list have met the criteria in the current year.

Has O Sullivan done something that Griggs hasn't. Genuine question

Wottle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771656#Comment_121771656

Maybe Scullion, you'd think he'd qualify as at least international.

I also think English is very fortunate to be getting the top money. I'm a big fan but is he really still a podium contenter?

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771693#Comment_121771693

Has Scullion done anything in the oadt 12/18 months to warrant funding.

Wottle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771820#Comment_121771820

His Dublin Marathon was a solid run and given his pedigree/potential, surely the "international" money would be warranted.

I don't know the qualification criteria but if Hiko is on the list, surely Scullion should.

I'm also a big fan of Hiko but not sure he had the best 2023.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771912#Comment_121771912

Hiko has a 27.53 10000m and a 62 half in the past 18 months.

While Scullion 2.09 and 62 half were fantastic it was back in 2020. His 2.11 in Dublin while been a solid run is probably isn't good enough for inclusion.

Wottle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121772156#Comment_121772156

Would you say Hiko has a better chance of qualifying over Scullion for Paris Olympic marathon? His debut 2'15.

Assume he won't target the 27'00 10k standard

Tombo2001

27.00 is a very tough target - do they have to hit that to qualify?

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771411#Comment_121771411

OK so - O'Sullivan won world u23s last year. Mawdsley deserves to be there defo in my view.

As for Griggs - I suppose a very obvious question would be whether he;d have been funded through the UK system. He is outstanding and does appear to go about things the right way.

healy1835

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770797#Comment_121770797

Yeah the marathon scene is a bit in limbo at the moment. Seaward, Pollock, Armstrong all dealing with injuries over the last 18 months. They would have all hoped to crack 2:10 and maybe get in via the rankings, but even that is looking increasingly difficult. Sean Tobin hasn't been able to make it to a marathon start line. Ryan Creech, Hiko Tonosa do they have a sub 2:10 time in them?Scullion is probably the best bet, but nothing ever seems to go straightforward with him. Fearghal Curtain is running Seville this weekend and seems to be targeting the automatic qualifying time, and Irish Record. He's coming off a 61min HM in Houston, so he could really enter the picture in a dramatic way.

Tombo2001

Overall - strongest athletics team we have had for several years for an olympics?

Up to maybe 5 athletes capable of making an olympic final?

Wottle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774097#Comment_121774097

Very tough, I think ranking points come into it also.

If on twitter, Elizabeth Egan is a must follow. She keeps a google sheet of how the Irish are doing in their pursuit of qualifying for Paris, and where they're competing each week.

https://twitter.com/egansadventures/status/1687406034078339072?t=otaPdJK4sXGQ1OwJdABfbA&s=19

Tombo2001

Wow, thats a serious piece of work

Hamachi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774175#Comment_121774175

Who are the 5 you have in mind?

Mageean and Adeleke for sure.

Sarah Lavin, Sarah Healy, Andrew Coscoran?

Mixed 4x400m and possibly the women's 4x400m.

Who else? Mark English and very outside bets would be Brian Fay and Sharlene Mawdsley.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775010#Comment_121775010

Yeah those three.

Not sure where Thomas Barr is at, but he is clearly potentially good enough to make a final.

It would be amazing to have two Irish runners in womens 1500m final.

Hamachi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775204#Comment_121775204

Of course. I forgot Thomas Barr. He’s in good early season form. Ran a 46.8x last week indoors. It’s one of his fastest indoor times ever. Promising start to the year for sure.

He’s definitely a potential finalist and would also hugely strengthen the mixed 4x400m squad.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121772365#Comment_121772365

I was chatting to one of the DTC lads and he wasn't sure of Hiko's plan's.

I can't see him running 27.00 so I'd imagine it will have to be through the points system. The reason I think he was funded was because of his European champ participation,.could be wrong one this one though. One reason why this may not be the reason is that Griggs went to the world championship and isn't funded. Junior titles mean very little really for funding purposes.

I'm not sure an u23 title is enough to be funded either for Sophie. But who knows 🤷‍♂️.

No Nadia Power OR Michelle Finn on the list either.

Maybe the above will get a few bid from AI, if they didn't get it from Sports Ireland.

formerrunner25

Strange one for Nick missing out, considering Sophie made the cut.

I think Adeleke, Coscoran, Mageean and Healy and a relay are our best bet for Olympic finals.

English, Lavin, Barr are probably outsiders

omicron

The sport Ireland carding system only applies to athletes aged at least 20 so Griggs isn't eligible.

They have a separate emerging talent funding program for athletes aged 16-19.

All the details here.

https://www.athleticsireland.ie/high-performance/carding

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121778781#Comment_121778781

Thanks for the clarification. I was aware of the development / emerging talent grant.

Guess he'll have to wait a grow first 🤣

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121778781#Comment_121778781

Thanks for the clarification. I was aware of the development / emerging talent grant.

Guess he'll have to wait a grow first 🤣

average_runner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121772156#Comment_121772156

Hike ran a slower marathon than scullion last year.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121782420#Comment_121782420

That may well be the case, but it not really relevant as none of their times were championship qualifier times. And I don't doubt that Scullion is a better marathon runner than Hiko, just that his window for a grant is probably closed.

average_runner

True. Scullion also very hot and cold, dublin time came with work he did in font, now back training at home so have to see the quality and result

Duanington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774147#Comment_121774147

Looks like the wheels came off pretty badly for Curtain, pity - he's got time on his side though.

Do the others have a sub 2.10? Who knows really, its almost like a change in sport when people step up to the marathon, nothing seems to add up very well at the moment. And as you say, with SS - nothing seems to go to plan, sometimes there is no plan !

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121786910#Comment_121786910

Yeah the marathon is a different beast although, some never really make the transition.

I'm not sure how much time Curtain has really. Obviously if it wasn't going to plan, he made the right decision to pull out, at least this will reduce the recovery time. Am I right in thinking that London is nearly the last chance. I'm basing that on, if an athlete doesn't get the auto QT, there are higher points on offer and usually the field is not as stacked outside of the top marquee names, so a 2.12 will usually see a higher finished position.

Duanington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121786944#Comment_121786944

Yeah, sorry - I more meant that he's a young man etc etc

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121778781#Comment_121778781

If thats the case then Ian O'Riordan should mea culpa.

Athletes cant be drawing on both pots. I am sure Griggs knows this.