XXVII Olympiad of Sydney, Australia

Report on the Irish performances in Sydney

Saturday, September 23, 2000 - 10:52- David Matthews

1 Schumann Nils GER 1:47.76 Q

2 Sa�d-Guerni Djabir ALG 1:47.95

3 Hatungimana Arth�mon BUR 1:48.14

4 Whitmarsh Zach CAN 1:48.42

5 Matthews David IRL 1:48.77

6 Hart Andrew GBR 1:48.78

7 Naikelekelevesi Isireli FIJ 1:49.61

400m Schumann Nils GER 54.66

Matthews gives his all

No joy after huge effort

Dave Matthews gave all he had but he was well off getting a place in the semi-fianls of the 800m.After a season riddled with injury the Leixlip man had done well just to break 1.48 at the nationals in his first track race of the year.It was, however, an optimistic view by the selectors to believe that Matthews could progress especially when Daniel Caulfield was in such good form but Matthews did his nation proud all the same.

Deciding to hang back in the early stages Matthews looked good with 250 to run but remained at the back of the pack with Nils Schumann and Guerni looking good for the automatic qualifying spots.With 150 to go Dave still remained behind and it was decision which cost him any chance of progressing out of an already slow heat.With 100 left he kicked but it was too late and he just caught Andy Hart on the line for 6th.He said after the race

The plan had been to sit back as I expected the Algerian [Sa�d-Guerni] to set a fast pace but when he didn`t take it up from the front I was unfortunate not to have be in a fast heat and the plan just didn`t suit the race.

Dave is now 28 and must consider retirement as a realistic option as he realisticely has no chance of regaining the spectacular form that saw him run 1.44.82 in 1995.However, looking at the circumstances of his preparation this performance was an excellant effort.Well done Dave!!

Monday, September 25, 2000 - 10:40 -James Nolan

1 El Guerrouj Hicham MAR 3:38.57 Q

2 Redolat Jos� Antonio ESP 3:38.66 Q

3 Boulahfane Kamal ALG 3:39.01 Q

4 Mayock John GBR 3:39.08 Q

5 Mekonnen Hailu ETH 3:39.09 Q

6 Stember Michael USA 3:39.13 Q

7 Achon Julius UGA 3:39.40 q

8 Chirchir William KEN 3:40.22

9 Nolan James IRL 3:40.50

10 Radomirovic Darko YUG 3:43.57

11 Howarth Nick AUS 3:45.46

12 Zorko Branko CRO 3:46.16

13 Munthali Francis MAW 3:46.34 (NR)

400m Munthali Francis MAW 58.82
800m Chirchir William KEN 2:01.16
1200m El Guerrouj Hicham MAR 2:57.21

Nolan fails to progress

Close but Nolan didn`t have it on the day

James Nolan failed to progress beyond the realm of round one in what one might describe as a flat performance as he posted a time 4 seconds slower that his best this year in a slow and tactical race.

As usual he hung back in 6th or 7th place for much of the race and with 6 automatic qualifiers Nolan looked to be in a good position throughout.However it was his fianl 400m which cost him a semi-final place as he drifted away for those important first six in the final straight shoot-out.Nolan will be disappointed with this performance as he had raced well coming into these championships and , interestingly , since two of the athletes who finished behind him in the European Indoors have both gone under3.32 (Shabunin of Russia and Baala of France) Nolan will have had a lot to look forward to but it was not to be as he came home a dejected 9th losing 3 places in the final 300m.

Nolan can now plan for the upcoming season with hope for a better result at the World Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the coming year.

Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 22:25- Mark Carroll

1 Sa�di-Sief Ali ALG 13:29.24 Q

2 Lebed Sergey UKR 13:29.69 Q

3 Alemu Dagne ETH 13:29.93 Q

4 Chelule David KEN 13:29.98 Q

5 Takaoka Toshinari JPN 13:29.99 Q

6 Taib Othman Sulaiman QAT 13:30.12 Q

7 Carroll Mark IRL 13:30.60

8 Mottram Craig AUS 13:31.06

9 El Nasri Yousef ESP 13:34.49

10 El Wardi Mohamed Sa�d MAR 13:35.18

11 Hauser Bradley USA 13:39.41

12 Olmedo Pablo MEX 13:40.34

1000m Olmedo Pablo MEX 2:41.96
2000m El Wardi Mohamed Sa�d MAR 5:25.83
3000m El Wardi Mohamed Sa�d MAR 8:03.35
4000mEl Wardi Mohamed Sa�d MAR10:51.99

Carroll misses chance to fulfill destiny

A shocking performance form dejected Carroll

Mark Carroll came to these championships on the back of PB`s over 1500m and the mile along with a European Indoor 3,000m title but he ran a lacklustre race to miss out by 0.48 of a second.

In a race that was slow from the start Mark sat and waited for the final straight sprint believing he had the speed in his legs to cope with any attacks.When they entered the straight and Mark called on his speed it was not there and he was left behind to miss out by so little.A dejected Carroll had no reason for his poor run.Having seen his heat be 7 seconds faster than the first at 3k Carroll didn`t have the rub of the green and must come away from these championships scratching his head.It was just one of those races where he didn`t have it , it seems.

This Olympics has supposed to have been his big breakthrough but it was not to be and he must once again bounce back from this disappointment for the 2001 season.

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