Fionnuala Britton qualifies for 5,000m in Olympics...

Having already qualified for the 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m in the Olympics in London, Fionnuala Britton has now qualified for the 5,000m. In a race in Rabat, Morocco last Sunday (27th May 2012), the current European Cross Country Champion ran 15:15.69 to finish in 6th place.

5000 Metres - Women  (Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme, Rabat, 27/05/2012)          
1 Alaoui Selsouli , Mariem         MAR   14:45.91
2 Kisa , Janeth                    KEN   14:57.68
3 Cherono , Priscah Jepleting      KEN   14:59.53
4 Godfay , Afera                   ETH   15:01.20
5 Gebru , Azemra                   ETH   15:11.91
6 Britton , Fionnuala              IRL   15:15.69 
7 Noujani , Nadia                  MAR   15:16.50
8 Moukim , Rkia                    MAR   15:21.88
9 Masai , Magdalene                KEN   15:28.48
10 Belete , Almenesh                ETH   15:32.68
11 Ghézielle , Bouchra              FRA   15:32.89
12 Mekasha , Waganesh               ETH   15:36.64
13 Mwangi , Joyce                   KEN   15:37.09
14 Mohammed , Alia Saeed            UAE   15:40.81
15 Bleasdale , Julia                GBR   16:00.75

This time which I presume was set in very warm conditions was well inside her previous best of 15:21.45 achieved in a mixed race last year. The qualifying Olympic 'A' standard is 15:20.

At the same meet, 20 year old Ciara Mageean ran 4:13.10 to finish 8th in the womens 1,500m. While this was much better than the 4:21.61 that she ran at the Leevale Track Meet in Cork in April, it is still well behind the 4:07.45 that she ran back in August 2011.

She is currently trying to achieve the Olympic 'A' standard of 4:06.00.