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| Irish hopes in Paris will once again rest on hurdles star Derval O'Rourke. |
European Athletics’ Member Federations have until Sunday to name their teams for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in less than two weeks time but Ireland, Poland and Slovakia are among those countries who have been quick off their marks in selecting their squads.
The 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships will be held in the French capital Paris at the Palais Omnisport Paris-Bercy from 4-6 March.
Ireland’s main medal hopes lie with the 2010 European Athletics Championships 100m hurdles silver medallist Derval O´Rourke, where she ran a national record of 12.65.
O’Rourke has also been an outstanding performer indoors ever since she won the 60m hurdles title at the 2006 World Indoor Championships. She also got the bronze medal at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torino.
Four other women are in the Irish team: Ailis McSweeney (60m), Mary Cullen (3000m), Tori Pena (pole vault) and TorKelly Proper (long jump). The two men in the team are: Brian Gregan (400m) and Darren McBrearty (800m).
“The team is small but elite, and is a good blend of youth and experience. We are really excited at the prospect of this team going to Paris,” said Ray Flynn, Athletics Ireland high performance chairman.
Poland
The leading names in Poland´s 18-strong squad are 800m men Marcin Lewandowski and Adam Kszczot, the 2010 European Athletics Championships gold and bronze medallists respectively, as well as the 2009 World Championships pole vault gold medallist Anna Rogowska.
A lot of interest will also be focussed on pole vaulter Pawel Wojciechowski, who set a national indoor record of 5.86m earlier this month. There will be a trio of men’s 1500m runner: Bartosz Nowicki, Mateusz Demczyszak and Adam Czerwinski while Lukas Parszczynski contests the 3000m.
On the women’s side, Silwia Ejdys will double at both the 1500m and 3000m. At the longer distance she will be accompanied by the 2005 and 2007 European indoor 3000m winner Lidia Chojecka as well as Renata Plis. Malgorzata
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| Barcelona medallists Marcin Lewandowski and Adam Kszczot will spearhead Polish challenge in Paris. |
Trybanska will contest both the long and triple jump while the men´s 4x400m relay team and pentathlete Karolina Tyminska have also secured invitations from European Athletics to contest their events.
Poland took three medals in 2009, a gold from shot putter Tomasz Majewski who is missing the indoor season this year and two bronze medals but there is optimism that they will return from Paris with a bigger haul.
Slovakia
Slovakia will have six athletes in Paris, five of them being jumpers. The 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships triple jump bronze medallist Dana Veldáková will be aiming to get on the podium again while her twin sister Jana, and Renata Medgyesova, will compete in long jump.
The men’s competitors are long jumper Jaroslav Dobrovodsky and high jumper Peter Horak in high jump. The only non-jumper in the Slovak squad is 60m hurdler Matus Janecek.