Brilliant Barr wins World title
Twenty two years old Thomas Barr Ferrybank AC and University of Limerick-he will be 23 on July 24 th- scored the biggest victory of his career too date in Gwangju,South Korea on Friday last when he won the 400 metres hurdles at the World University Games.In the process he had to run three world class races in as many days each very demanding physical and mental events and where the stride pattern to hurdle number one and all hurdles thereafter has to be spot on and the hurdles have to be taken in a very economical way not to mention keeping a side eye on what is going on around him in the other lanes. On Wednesday morning he won his heat decisively in 49.96 seconds the fastest of the six heats, he then did likewise on Thursday winning his semi final in 49.83 again the fastest of the three semi finals and then went into Fridays final full of confidence after securing a very good draw in lane four for the big race. Favourite for the final he was made to fight all the way in particular by Algerian Abdelma Lahoulou who improved with each race but Thomas renowned for his strong finish went away in the final five metres to take the title in 48.78 his second fastest time ever. Lahoulou was second in 48.99 a personal best and the third and fourth athletes home a Russian and a Brazilian also posted personal bests.
Looking Ahead
The main event this year for Thomas will be the World Championships in Beijing in late August. Currently there are five athletes in the world with better times than his 48.65 this season headed by Bershawn Jackson USA on 48.09 . In two Diamond League races this year in Doha in May and Rome in June Thomas finished third and fourth respectively against some of these five athletes and will meet some of them again in London in another leg on July 25 where he will hope to beat his Irish record of 48.65 again and get closer to the times he will need in Beijing to make the final. Before heading for Beijing he will defend his Irish title at the National Championships in Santry on August 8 th . Thomas is only the fourth athlete from Ireland to win at these games the first was Ronnie Delany in 1961 in the 800 metres ,Sonia O'Sullivan and Niall Bruton both won 1500 metres titles in 1991 so Thomas is in very good company
GloHealth National Juvenile
On Saturday and Sunday last Tullamore was the venue for another two days of the National Juvenile Championships and Waterford athletes won five titles, three of the five were won by Ferrybank AC athletes. Neasa Murphy cleared 1.66 metres to win the high jump u 19, îrlaith O'Brien won the u 17 javelin with 42.43 metres and Praise Owoeye had a personal best in winning the u13 long jump with 5.08 metres and she was second in the 80 metres and Katie Murphy was also second in the 200 metres u 16. For West Waterford Micel Power had a brilliant win in the 3000 metres u17 in 9 minutes 2.04 seconds,Sam O'Neill won the u 15 pole vault with 2.60 metres. Silver medals went to Seamie Fennell u 19 pole vault, Eoghan Flynn u 18 discus and bronze medals were won by Eoin Killigrew u 15 pole vault, Jurig Kanash u 19 pole vault and Sean Curran u 19 1500 metres. Waterford AC had silver medal winners with Grace Furlong u18 triple jump, Hannah Jacob u 17 walk and îrla O'Connor u 16 walk and bronze medals went to Emma Caulfield u15 walk and Evan Hayes u13 long jump.
Rathgormack 5 miles
Seventy competed in the Annual Autopower Rathgormack 5 miles on Friday last and Danny Smyth Ballynonty was the easiest of winners in 27 minutes 34 seconds. First lady home was Sally Forristal, St Joseph's in 32.48 It was race 4 of the Outfield Sports Series
European Junior Championships
This week from Thursday to Sunday the European Junior Championships are in Ekilstuna in Sweden and Phoebe Murphy from Ferrybank AC competes for Ireland in the 200 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay. Niall Tuohy has two races in Belgium this week on Wednesday a 400 metes in Liege and on Saturday in Huesden and Kelly Proper competes in a 200 metres in Lucerne in Switzerland also on Saturday
Schools International
On Saturday next the Schools International meeting is in Glasgow starting at 11 am and on the Irish team are a number of athletes from Waterford Schools.
National Fixture
On Saturday in Tulamore the National Juvenile relays under 12 to under 19 as well as the Juvenile (B) Championships will be staged with a long days competition beginning at 10 am.
Road Races
Two road races are in the county this week. On Thursday with an 8 pm start the Clashmore 5 miles is on another race in the Ger Wyley Sports Series and on Friday at 7 pm the Alan Everett Memorial 5 miles is in Woodstown preceded by a walk at 6.30 pm.
