LEITRIM racewalker Colin Griffin said yesterday that he still hasn't given up hope of making the Irish team for the upcoming European Championships, despite being a surprise omission from the large provisional squad announced yesterday.
The Ballinamore AC walker has the necessary qualifying standard both at the 20km (which he did twice this year) and his usual 50km distance (from last season), but at the weekend, missed the National Championships through injury.
"I was disappointed not to see my name in the team because I had asked Athletics Ireland (AAI) to select me subject to proving my fitness," Griffin said.
"I am not looking for a free trip. If I don't feel I can do myself justice in Barcelona, I will be the first person to withdraw," he stressed.
Griffin had a fall when training in Italy 10 days ago that caused a hamstring problem late last week.
He came home for the Nationals and had treatment from the AAI medical team and said he pulled out of the Nationals on their advice. An MRI yesterday confirmed he has a grade one hamstring strain.
power
"I was due to go back to Italy to train, but now I'm going to spend the next three days working with my physio in Limerick and will do everything in my power to make it, that is my focus but it's a race against time," he admitted.
AAI do not have to finalise their team until next weekend and some athletes, like Irish 100m champion Ailish McSweeney (already selected as part of the 4x100m team), are still chasing individual qualifying standards this week.
A provisional team of 30 athletes was announced for the Europeans, which take place in Barcelona from July 27 to August 1. It included double Paralympic champion Jason Smyth, who also missed the Nationals due to an Achilles injury, with the stipulation that Smyth is selected "pending medical clearance on a minor injury".
Mullingar distance runner Martin Fagan sought selection but his failure to run at the Nationals last weekend ruled him out.
Elsewhere, there were no shocks as everyone who was fit and had the qualifying standard was picked, and the biggest surprise is that it included three relay teams.
Ireland's best medal chances are in world silver medal-winning walker Olive Loughnane, world finalists Derval O'Rourke (100m hurdles), David Gillick (400m) and Athenry flier Paul Hession.
The team includes two athletes who recently declared for Ireland -- pole vaulter Tori Pena and 400m hurdler Justine Kinney. American Pena has still to be cleared by the IAAF to compete for Ireland.
ShareThis