HIGHLIGHTS: John Travers shows fine form over 1,500m at Andujar in Spain. Aoife Lynch impresses again at the T-Meet at Tilburg in the Netherlands.

REPORT: With the 5,000m cancelled at the International Athletics Meet at Andujar in Spain on Saturday evening (22.05.2021) John Travers opted to compete in the 1,500m. The longer distance is John’s main focus this Summer with the intention of gaining Olympic Games qualification. It’s a tall order! However, Travers is a very dedicated and focused athlete…

The Andujar 1,500m proved to be a highly competitive affair, with pacer Pablo Sanchez Santos of Spain taking the field through 400m in 57.58 and 800m in 1.55.51. Eventual race winner Tedesse Lemi of Ethiopia led at 1,200m in 2.54.56, with Travers well placed in the chasing group.

Lemi held on to win in a meeting record time of 3.35.84, with another Ethiopian athlete Samual Abate gaining a PB of 3.36.30 for 2^nd place. Azeddine Habz of France came 3^rd in 3.56.95, then Isaac Nader of Portugal (3.37.15), with John Travers closing out the race in 5^th place in 3.37.94. There were 12 finishers. This was Travers fastest 1,500m time since running 3.37.27 on his way to a 3.55.44 mile at the 2014 Morton Games.

John wrote on social media: ‘Absolutely over the moon with my season opener of 3.37.94. My fastest 1,500m in 7 years. Am looking forward to hitting a good 5k in the coming weeks!’

In the International T-Meeting at Tilburg, Netherlands on Monday (24.05.2021) Aoife Lynch, following on from her silver medal run in the World Team Relay event in Poland recently, put in fine performances over 100m and 200m in less-than-ideal conditions. The cold and damp conditions, coupled with a wet track, made it difficult for the sprinters to achieve good times.

In the circumstances Lynch showed very encouraging early season form to finish 2^nd in her qualifying heat in the 100m equalling her personal best time of 11.91. She came 8^th in a competitive final in 11.92, placing 9^th overall on time from the 35 competitors. The final was won by N’Ketia Seedo of the Netherlands in 11.60. Molly Scott (11.84) of Ireland came 7^th.

Earlier in the event Lynch sprinted to 4^th in her heat of the women’s 200m in 24.23. With the event based on times from the five heats, Lynch came 8^th overall from a total entry of 32. Rani Rosius (23.83) of Belgium was the overall winner.

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

International Athletics Meeting at Andujar, Spain (22.05.2021)

Men’s 1,500m: 5^th (of 12) John Travers (3.37.94)

International T-Meeting at Tilburg, Netherlands (24.05.2021)

Women’s 200m: Heat 3 (of 4) Aoife Lynch (4^th of 6 in 24.22). 8^th of 32 overall.

Women’s 100m Final: 8^th Aoife Lynch (11.92); Heat 2^nd Aoife Lynch (11.91 equal PB). 9^th of 35 overall.