BBC Podcast on Eamonn Coghlan being the first man over 40 to break the 4 min mile

Back in 1994, Eamonn Coghlan became the first man aged over 40 to run a sub 4 minute mile.

A recent Sporting Witness podcast from the BBC World Service recounted that event.

You can hear it here... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csym6r

REMEMBERING A CHAMPION’S FAREWELL (Guest article by John Walshe)

John Treacy from Waterford is one of the few Irish athletes to win an Olympic medal after finishing second in the Marathon at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. In 1995, a special 5 mile race was held in Waterford City to mark the end of his career.

John Walshe has written an article about that special occasion 20 years ago.
 

REMEMBERING A CHAMPION’S FAREWELL (John Walshe)

Twenty years ago, on Sunday October 15th, 1995, a special and rather unique five-mile road race took place around the streets of Waterford city.

It was to be the final competitive appearance of arguably Ireland’s greatest-ever male distance runner, John Treacy. It brought the curtain down on what had been a roller-coaster international career which had begun for the boy from Villierstown 21 years before when, as a 16-year-old, he finished third in the junior race at the 1974 World Cross-Country Championships in Italy.

Another world junior bronze followed the year after in Morocco and then, in 1978, he took the senior world crown at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. A second world title was added 12 months later in front of an ecstatic home crowd in the mud of Limerick Racecourse.

After collapsing in the qualifying round of the 10,000m due to the heat and humidity of Moscow at the 1980 Olympics, Treacy returned a few days later to take seventh in the 5000m final. Later that year he set an Irish 10,000m record of 27:48.7 in Brussels.

He added the Irish 5000m record with a time of 13:16.81 in 1984 and then – after finishing ninth in the 10,000m at the Los Angeles Olympics – on an unforgettable Sunday evening he attained his greatest honour when taking the silver medal behind Carlos Lopes of Portugal in the marathon.

Treacy’s international career continued for another 10 years and included two third-place finishes in the Boston Marathon – his 1988 time of 2:09:15 is still the fastest by an Irishman – along with marathon victories in Los Angeles (1992) and Dublin (1993). He also won the Great North Run Half-Marathon in a time of 61:00 (1988) and ran 46:25 for 10 miles at the Great South Run in Portsmouth (1993).

And so on to that fine October Sunday afternoon of two decades ago. The event was put together by Frank Quinn, who had been manager to cyclist Sean Kelly and who had organised a similar farewell for Kelly in his home town of Carrick-on-Suir the previous December.

Invitations were sent to Carol Lopes and Charlie Spedding, Treacy’s fellow Olympic medallists, and both were delighted to attend. It was the first time that all three had been together since they stood on the victory podium on that glorious night in Los Angeles.

Photo by Dan Linehan. It shows Coghlan, Cram, Dick Hooper, Richard Mulligan and of course Treacy (wearing No 1 on the long-sleeve T-shirt given to every runner) setting the pace in the early stages.

Joining them was a galaxy of stars including Michael Carruth, Ireland’s 1992 Olympic boxing champion, indoor mile record holder and world champion Eamonn Coghlan, world, European and Commonwealth champion Steve Cram, along with Dick Hooper and Jerry Kiernan who had also represented Ireland in the Olympic marathon. Sean Kelly, like Treacy, a Freeman of Waterford City, was also in attendance and even ran the race, covering the five miles in a creditable 34:39.

Although Lopes (looking distinctly overweight) and Spedding didn’t compete, they, along with Cram, Coughlan and many local dignitaries paid glowing tributes to Treacy on the steps of Waterford City Hall. Also, before the main event got underway, hundreds of schoolchildren took part in a one mile lap of honour. Then, with the formalities over, the action began with over 300 runners setting off on a route comprising of one small and one large lap around the city.

Of course there could only be one winner, and shortly after four miles with the leading group reduced to Treacy, Cram, Kiernan and Richard Mulligan, the local hero moved marginally ahead and crossed the line first to a tumultuous reception in a time of 25:50. Mulligan and Kiernan were credited with similar times in second and third with former world mile record holder Cram a second behind in fourth.

The following day’s Cork Examiner gave Treacy’s farewell race extensive coverage and included a classic picture, taken by Dan Linehan. It shows Coghlan, Cram, Dick Hooper, Richard Mulligan and of course Treacy (wearing No 1 on the long-sleeve T-shirt given to every runner) setting the pace in the early stages.

Also prominent is a man no stranger to the athletics scene in the Cork area and beyond, Martin Drake from Youghal, now Chairman of the East Cork Divisional Board.

As can be seen in the picture, Martin is smiling at some remark passed by the ‘Chairman of the Boards’. But, like that iconic photograph of hurling legends Christy Ring and Mick Mackey from the 1957 Munster Semi-Final, the question must be asked - what DID Eamonn Coghlan say to Martin Drake on that autumn Sunday 20 years ago?

The results of the race can be seen HERE

Are US scholarships good for Irish athletes?

Over the weekend, the Irish radio station Newstalk had an in depth discussion on it's Off the Ball sports programme about the merits or otherwise of Irish athletes taking scholarships and going to universities in the US.

Included in the 50 minute programme are Sonia O'Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O'Sullivan,  David McCarthy and Irish Times columnist Ian O'Riordan.

Five Greatest Irish Runners in Villanova history...

For decades, many Irish athletes have gone to Villanova college in the US to get a university education. In fact, Irish athletes were so synonymous with Villanova that it was called the 'Irish Pipeline'.

In conjunction with St.Patrick's Day last weekend, Villanova University had an article on their blog titled 'The Five Greatest Irish Runners in Villanova History'. With several decades worth of athletes to choose from, they finally decided on the top 5.

The five picked were Sonia O'Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O'Sullivan, Ronnie Delaney and John Hartnett.

The article can be seen HERE

Eamonn Coghlan to give talk in Kinsale...Mon 22nd Oct 2012

Former 5,000 metre World Champion Eamonn Coghlan is scheduled to give a talk on the importance of sport in Kinsale next Monday evening. Admission is free.

This Sporting Life profiles Eamonn Coghlan on RTE TV...

The RTE programme This Sporting Life recently profiled the career of former 5000m World Champion Eamonn Coghlan. It can now be seen on the RTE Player Service until the 8th of October.

Click HERE

(Link fixed ;o)

Newspaper recounts Eamonn Coghlan's record indoor mile 31 years ago...

In a recent issue of the San Diego Union Tribune, Nick Canepa looks back 31 years to the 21st of February 1981 when Eamonn Coghlan set a new indoor mile record. He reflects back on a time when indoor track events like this attracted huge crowds and Coghlans performance on that particular night was for him was one of the best.

Article HERE

Eamonn Coghlan...Still 'Chairman of the Boards'...

Back in the late 70's and early 80's in the USA, races like the indoor mile were huge events and attracted big crowds. One of the most famous races at the time was the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile in New York. Over this distance, Eamonn Coghlan excelled and won the event in what was then a record seven times. For this achievement, he earned the nickname 'The Chairman of the Boards'.

In 2010, Bernard Lagat set a new record by winning the Wanamaker Mile eight times. He also set the fastest time in 2005 when he ran 3:52.87. It's also worth noting that Marcus O'Sullivan from Cork also won the Wanamaker Mile an impressive six times.

After the most recent event, I had a look back at the previous winning times. It's easy to just look at the number of victories and just say someone won it X times. But was the competition to win in more modern times as intense as when it was back in the 1980's?

Surely consistency must count for something? Who had the fastest average winning time? As you can see from the results below, Eamonn Coghlan won his Wamamaker Mile races on average over a second faster than Lagat and two seconds faster than O'Sullivan.

 The Master is still ' The Chairman of the Boards'.

Millrose games and the Wanamaker mile...

An event called the Millrose Games is being held in a 5,000-seat armory in Upper Manhattan, New York on Saturday. Back in the 1980's, the Millrose Games were the centre of indoor track and field in the United States and Eamonn Coghlan was one it's biggest stars. He won the famous Wanamaker Mile seven times and earned himself the title Chairman of the Boards as a result.

Eamonn Coghlan will be there again on Saturday to watch his son John in action after he ran a sub-four-minute mile indoors for the first time in Boston last month. John will be running anchor for Dublin City University in the distance medley relay at 7:40pm (Sunday morning 00:40 am Irish Time).

The main event, the Wanamaker Mile starts at 9:49 pm (Sunday 02:49am Irish Time). The Irish interest in this is David McCarthy from Waterford who won an indoor mile recently in 3:55. Video in an earlier post.

If you are interested in watching the games, I'll have the link up live here on the blog. Coverage of the Millrose games start at 9pm Irish Time on Saturday evening and I'll put the video link up then.

The complete list of events can be seen HERE. Remember that those times are for the USA. Add five hours for the Irish time.

1983...Eamonn Coghlan's record breaking indoor mile

A few days ago, I put up a post about David McCarthy (3:55) and John Coghlan (3:59) running sub four minutes in an indoor mile race in the US. While I was looking for info on it, I came across this old video from 1983.

Eamonn Coghlan was at the time one of the best middle distance runners in the world and this video clip shows the Chairman of the Boards setting what was then a new indoor mile world record of 3:49.78. That record would last for 14 years and still remains the second fastest indoor mile of all time.

Eamonn Coghlan to return to the Millrose Games in New York

The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet (track and field) held on the first Friday in February in New York City. They will be held at the Armory in Washington Heights in 2012, after having taken place in Madison Square Garden from 1914 to 2011. The games were started when employees of the New York City branch of Wanamaker's department store formed the Millrose Track Club to hold a meet. The featured event is the Wanamaker Mile.

August 17, 1985 when Frank O'Mara, Marcus O'Sullivan, Ray Flynn and Eamonn Coghlan broke the world 4xMile relay record in a time of 15:49.08. It remains the world record 26 years later.

Former Olympian and 5,000 metre World Champion Eamonn Coghlan is going back to the Millrose Games in New York, this time as an 'adopted coach.' The seven-time champion of the Wanamaker Mile is helping bring a talented Irish squad from Dublin City University to compete in the Byron Dyce College Men’s Distance Medley Relay in the 105th Millrose Games, Feb. 11, 2012 at The Armory.

"I've known these kids since they were young teenagers," said Coghlan, whose son, John, will be running the 1600m anchor. "I've seen them grow up. The fact that they are all in school together, they can see what running in New York City is all about. It's exciting for their team from Dublin University to go to the Millrose Games and have a chance to do exceptionally well. "The Irish used to come to the Millrose Games to support me, Marcus O'Sullivan (Wanamaker Mile champion in 1986, '88, '89, '90 and '92 and now head coach at Villanova) and Ron Delany (winner of four consecutive Wanamaker Mile titles, 1956-59). People are not aware of the talent coming out of Ireland. It might get them back on the scene again and they potentially could make the Olympic Team come next July."

Recognized as Ireland's 'Dream Team' and Gold Medal winner of the Irish Under-23 Cross Country team competition, the Dublin City squad consists of Irish Junior 800m record holder Mark English (1:47.09), Brian Gregan, Darren McBrearty and 2010 U-23 Irish 1500 meters champion John Coghlan. Dublin City University coach Enda Fitzpatrick will also make the trip.

Earlier this year Eamonn Coghlan introduced to Armory Foundation president Dr. Norb Sander the idea of bringing an Irish team to the Millrose Games. "He asked me if I would be in on the floor activities," Coghlan recalled. "I said we need a bit of the Irish influence back in the Millrose Games again. I said, 'What about bringing an Irish team over?'" Thus Coghlan, nicknamed the Chairman of the Boards for winning the Wanamaker Mile in 1977, '79-81, '83, '85 and '87, will be in attendance to support the talented Irish outfit. "My role there is as a parent, coach and a nervous dad," Coghlan said. "I just want to be with Norb and help keep the Millrose Games going. Enda would like my influence to be with the kids the day before and calm them down, motivate them and help them get ready. "The Millrose Games are close to my heart for obvious reasons. My success in the Millrose Games has been the making of Eamonn Coghlan. Not a week goes by when someone doesn't say something to me about winning the Wanamaker Mile."

The Irish Team will be competing against the country's top college programs including Eamonn Coghlan's alma mater Villanova, Virginia, Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany. The week prior to the Millrose Games, the Irish team will participate individually in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational (Feb. 3-4) at The Armory.

Eamonn Coghlan on RTE television...

On Thursday evening, RTE had a programme called This Sporting Life which covered the athletic career of Eamonn Coghlan, one of the all time greats of Irish running.

The programme which is about 27 mins long is well worth watching and is now available on the RTE Player until the 17th of February 2011.

The link to the video is HERE