1500 Meters
Review of the Irish Runners Year
Ireland had a quiet year yet again with no representation at Seville.The domestic scene was quite competitive,however,and there were many fine races witnessed.Niall Bruton was to struggle in his efforts to gain a qualifying standard and eventually ran out of time and had to settle for silver at the National 1500 meters and a thrilling win at the Morton Mile.In that race it looked as if UCD`s Andrew Walker was going to take the victory as he had a sizable lead going into the straight but Bruton showed us what he was made of and fought back to take the victory in a time of 4:01.2.Niall has struggled over recent years to regain the form that saw him win the World Student Games back in `91.At the Nationals it was Mark Carroll who made history by winning the 1500m and 5000m titles.Brain Treacy achieved a B standard for Seville but lack of funds saw him miss out.Shane Healy has again had a dissappointing year failing to post any sort of impressive times.The man who impressed us all by reaching the semi-finals at the Atlanta Olympics has yet to recover from a chonric back injury which he suffered from back in `97.Gareth Turnbull made inroads on the international scene as he finished 7th in the World Student Games final.He also finished 3rd overall in the BMC Championships where he missed 3 of the 7 races.He also won the National 800 title and has had an excellant season considering last years dissappointments due to over-training.His St.Malachy`s team-mate Conor Swenney and Colm McLean also were in the spotlight.McLean had an exceptionally poor year by his standards considering he had been 6th in the World Junior Championships last year and he faled to make the final of The European Juniors in Riga where he ran apoor 3:50.7 in his heat and failed to progress.His PB of 3.43 would have seen him win by a large margin.The younger of the St.Malachy`s 1500m machine is Conor Sweeney.He failed to eclipse Colm McLean CBP on his way to the Irish School`s title but really impressed on quailying for the European Junior final and finishing a crediable 7th.With the like of Brian Treacy and Gareth Turnbull coming to form we could have a crediable team travelling to Sydney for this event.
Review of the International Runners Year
El Guerrouj,the greatest of all time?
No one can deny Hicham el Gurrouj as the best miler and 1500m runner of all time as he again dominated the World scene.In Rome he broke Nourridine Morceli`s 5 year old mile record.His new world record time is 3.43.13.At that meeting we saw the emergence of Noah Ngeny who shocked the world by finishing only half a second behind El Guerrouj.This might have installed doubt as to who would dominate this event this year but when the two met in Zurich there would be only one winner and it was el Guerrouj.He destroyed Ngeny and was the easy favourite going into Seville.He jogged across the line in a time of 3.28.57.In Seville El Guerrouj had to use his fellow countryman Adil Kaoch to pace him to victory.Ngeny was second and Spain`s Reyes Estevez was third.Looking back the threat cused by Ngeny was neutralised this year but who knows what will happen in Sydney.This year was certainly a year where El Gueerouj futhered his hold on the 1500m world.
Records
10 Fastest Irishmen in 1999
| Name
| Club
| Time
|
| Mark Carroll
| Leevale
| 3.35.00
|
| Brian Tracey
| Annadale Striders
| 3.37.74
|
| Niall Bruton
| Clonliffe Harriers
| 3.39.83
|
| James Nolan
| UCD
| 3.40.20
|
| Gareth Turnbull | St.Malachys
| 3.41.30
|
| Danny Caulfield
|
| 3.41.72
|
| Pat Davoren
| Brighton & Hove
| 3.42.30
|
| Neville Davey
| Clonliffe harriers
| 3.42.96
|
| Shane Healy
| Metro
| 3.43.03
|
| Colm McClean
| St.Malachy`s
| 3.43.52
|
5 Fastest Men in 1999
| Name
| Country
| Time
| Venue
|
| Hicham El Guerrouj
| MAR
| 3:27:65
| Seville
|
| Noah Ngeny
| KEN
| 3:28:73
| Seville
|
| Bernard Langat
| KEN
| 3:30:56
| Zurich
|
| Reyes Estevez
| ESP
| 3.30.57
| Seville
|
| Rui Silva
| POR
| 3:30:88
| Zurich
|
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