AFTER JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING Ireland’s first gold medal of the meet, the tally has been quadrupled in a single day.
Wexford’s Darragh McDonald got the ball rolling with a commanding display in the pool.
The 18-year-old smashed his PB by seven full seconds and finished several lengths clear of his nearest challenger in the 400m freestyle.
We hope McDonald’s massive achievement won’t be entirely eclipsed by events later tonight. Track and field so often captivates and when you have Irish athletes like Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop bypassing world record it is easy to see why.
What we learned today
- Smyth and McKillop are world beaters
Make no mistake, the pressure was on these boys. Yet, they came out, trusted in their ability and delivered on the biggest stage… in emphatic style. Two track golds and two world records. Sensational.
- GB and Australia still dominate the velodrome.
Team GB took away two more gold medals from track cycling as Sarah Story won the 5oom and Neil Faiche the km time trial. Ireland’s Michael Gallagher was one of many victims in the 4km pursuit. He could only follow as Jon-Allan Butterworth set a new world record – a time that proved good enough only for bronze as Australian’s Michael Gallagher came out to set a new one.
- Oscar Pistorius means business.
The South African ‘blade runner’ set a new world record 21.30s in his 200m heat this evening. He wasn’t letting up, despite leading by a good 20 metres at the end. The final is tomorrow.
Headline of the day
‘Golds, golds, golds. We’re lookin’ for a good time.’
Other news from Team Ireland
We’ve mentioned already that Cathal Miller was disappointed with his performance in the 4km pursuit. There was also heartbreak for Catherine O’Neill who came fourth in the women’s club throw – another even in which a world record was needed for gold.
10m air-rifle marksman, Sean Baldwin fell just short of a place in tomorrow’s final. All eight finalists carded perfect scores of 600 while Baldwin’s was 589.
“I am disappointed as I had a good chance here.” Baldwin explained, “It was a timing issue, I needed to pick up the pace and it led to the score of 27 in the third string, I knew then that I wouldn’t qualify. Now the focus is on my last event on Wednesday”.
Hero of the day:
We’re spoilt for choice, but we’ll go for…. (*covers eyes and picks name from hat) Michael McKillop. His kick once the bell sounded for the final lap was a thing of beauty.
You said what?
“This just goes to show that if you work hard and apply yourself you can achieve at the greatest level.“Times at championships are irrelevant. It doesn’t matter whether you run ten zero or eleven zero, it doesn’t matter as long as you win. I believe I can run quicker that again.”
Just when we think Jason Smyth has inspired us as much as he can, he comes out with a line like that.
Medal table (as of 11.15pm Saturday September 1)
Take THAT, Germany!
Sad Spuds absolutely hammered…Up the Gunners. ..Lmao
What is interesting Sean is that the spuds have won more trophies than your chaps have in the last 7 years ;) Nothing much to be laughing at.
So What!!! Arsenal fans are enjoying a fantastic season so far. Don’t give a damn what other clubs have done in the past. Living in the present and looking to the future. The fact that Spurs have spent so much money and still look so inept is a joy to watch regardless of what they won previously.
Man City get plenty of grief for wasting money. Today they managed to score as many goals in 90 minutes as Tottenham’s £26,000,000 centre forward has scored in the entire season.
Haha Haha Ha Ha
With the money Spurs have spent, its gonna be absolutley gas when Arsenal finish ahead of them!!!
Well done city Brilliant
A load of what’s on their shirts,cock! What a bunch of losers,up the lane my ass! Most of them were conceived up a bloody lane.
Were they? Fascinating…
Least they get it anywhere, I see you have to resort to “Tagged” for any bird to look at you Jimmy….. a bit sad eh?
jimmy redmond@arsenal1c8 May
@paulamoffett Hi Paula you hooked up with me on tagged, how are you,and what are you up to
Not really much good winning 6-0 at home when they’ll probably lose their next away game against Crystal Palace or someone like that.
Yaya’s assist was amazing
Lloris still suffering from concussion from few week ago!