Rose-Anne Galligan and Christine McMahon were in impressive form over the weekend hitting European standards over 800m and 400m hurdles respectively.
Galligan [Newbridge] posted 2:02.35 for third in section two of the women’s 800m at the Payton Jordan Invitational for a European B standard and 0.85 seconds outside the Olympic qualifying time [2:01.5]. The European Athletics Championships take place in Amsterdam in July.
There was a host of Irish athletes in action in California, where North Sligo's Mary Cullen had to drop out mid race in the 10,000m.
0.85 of a second away from the Olympic qualifying time! A great way to end my American trip with a 2:02.35 😊 Roll on European racing season!
— Rose-Anne Galligan (@RAG800m) May 2, 2016
McMahon [Ballymena & Antrim], running for Queen's Belfast, broke the previous championship record for the 400m hurdles to finish second at the British University Championships in 57.78 seconds. Loughborough's Jessica Turner won in 57.50.
Elsewhere, former Olympian David Gillick returned to action in Pavia, Italy, running 48.05 to finish fifth in the 400m. The 32-year-old may yet run himself into contention for the Irish Olympic 4x400m team.
Also in the States, Paralympic star Jason Smyth [Derry City Track Club] impressed over 100m with 10.45 seconds with a legal +1.3 wind in Florida.
Laura Graham [Mourne Runners] showed deep energy reserves to finish second at the 35th Deep River Rock Belfast City having run a personal best at the London Marathon eight days ago as Kenyans continued their dominance at the head of the men’s field.
The Kilkeel woman, and mother of four, ran 2:48:03 in the London marathon and impressed once more in second with 2:48:55 – her time in London chopped 8 minutes off her old best.
The race was won by Ethiopia’s defending champion Berhan Gebremichael who took victory in 2:48:26. Czech athlete Radka Churanova took third in 2:51.37.
