800 Meters
Review of the Irish Runners Year
Ireland had an exceptional year at this distance in 1998.The emergence of Larne born James McIlroy was the highlight as he did us all proud by finishing forth in Budapest at the Europeans Championships.He also destroyed Niall Bruton at the Nationals in the 1500 meters.He set a excellant PB of 1.45.32 in Nice in only his first competitive year in athletics.James Nolan also made us proud by finishing a close 4th in the European indoors in Valencia earlier in the year.He also had an excellant victory at the Cork City Sports over some Kenyans and made it to the semi-final of the Europeans in Budapest.He also beat Dave Matthews in a close finish to take the national 800m title at Santry.David Matthews had a relitively poor year by his standards but he too made the semis in Budapest and ran well throughout the competition.He was beaten by his UCD team-mate at the European indoors where he finished 5th and at the National outdoors.He had an injury early in the season that hampered his progress.Brendan O`Shea showed potential by clocking up the 263rd fastest time in the world this year with a 1.48.31 at the nationals where he was 3rd behind Nolan and Matthews.
Review of the International Runners Year
The 800m was dominated by 19 year old Japhet Kimutai from Kenya.He was the story of 1998.He dominated the entire season.He took important victories at Z�rich and again in Brussels.He cruised to the commonwealth title in Kuala Lumpar.He posted the 1st and 2nd fastest times of the year with a 1.42.67 and 1.42.83.Patrick Nduri won in Rome and set the third fastest time of the year with a 1.42.90.Wilson Kipketer had a dismal year.Kimitai beat him at Z�rich and Kipketer finished last in a contraversal final at the Euro champ`ships in Budapest.A bout of malaria early in the season prevented Kipketer showing the kind of form he did in 1997.Nils Schumann from Germany won the Europeans with Andre Bucher of Switzerland 2nd and Lucas Vydra of the Czech Rep. third.Unfortunately none of the Europeans could get anywhere near the Kenyans on the Grand Prix scene with Italy`s Andrea Longo the fastest European of the year.Overall Kimitai was a revolation with African dominance growing ever stronger.
Records
5 Fastest Irishmen in 1998
| Name
| Club
| Time
|
| James McIlroy
| Ballymena & Antrim
| 1.45.32
|
| James Nolan
| UCD
| 1.46.64
|
| Dave Matthews
| UCD
| 1.46.76
|
| Brendan O`Shea
| Slaney Olympic
| 1.48.29
|
| David Brosnan
| Leevale
| 1.48.63
|
5 Fastest Men in 1998
| Name
| Country
| Time
| Venue
|
| Japhet Kimutai
| KEN
| 1.42.76
| Zurich
|
| Japhet Kimutai
| KEN
| 1.42.87
| Stuttgart
|
| Patrick Nduri
| Ken
| 1.42.90
| Rome
|
| Kenny Kimwetich
| KEN
| 1.43.03
| Stuttgart
|
| Wilson Kipketer
| DEN
| 1.43.18
| Zurich
|
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