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Page last updated at 20:07 GMT, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:07 UK

Jason Smyth proves fitness for Europeans at French meet

Jason Smyth is the stand-out performer from the Northern Ireland Athletics Championship at the Antrim Forum

Jason Smyth proved his fitness for next week's European Championships as he clocked times of 10.41 and 10.43 at a low key meeting in France on Tuesday.

Smyth, who has a personal best of 10.32, had not raced for over a month because of a hamstring injury but came through the test in Castres unscathed.

"There were no problems although he was very rusty as we expected," said Smyth's coach Stephen Maguire.

"But he's been training well and will be OK for Barcelona."

Smyth's preparations for the race weren't helped by some travel delays on the way to the South of France from the Ireland team's pre-European Championship training camp in Murcia.

"He was pretty tired by the time he got here this afternoon at 2pm and it wasn't the ideal way to prepare for a race," added Maguire.

"But it's a case of job done with no problems after the two races."

Ireland will bring a 33-strong team to Barcelona after a number of late additions to the squad.

Ailis McSweeney will compete in the women's 100m after breaking Michelle Carroll-Walsh's 32-year-old Irish record by clocking 11.40 in Belgium last week.

McSweeney's time cut .03secs off the former mark.

UCD sprinter Steven Colvert will join Paul Hession in the 200m after clocking a personal best of 20.90 over the weekend while Rory Chesser is picked for the 1500m.

Chesser secured his Barcelona berth with a 3:40.08 performance in Sweden over the weekend, which was almost a second inside the qualifying standard.

Colin Griffin is also a late entry for the 50K walk.

Paul Hession, David Gillick, Derval O'Rourke and walker Olive Loughnane are all genuine medal prospects for the Irish at the Championships.



see also
Smyth taking hype in his stride
08 Jul 10 |  Athletics
Smyth and Foster in Ireland team
12 Jul 10 |  Athletics
Smyth skips Irish Championships
07 Jul 10 |  Athletics
Athlete Smyth added to Delhi team
17 Jun 10 |  Northern Ireland
Smyth breaks NI 100 metres record
12 Jun 10 |  Athletics
Mageean sets new schools record
05 Jun 10 |  Athletics
Harty sets new NI 5,000m record
30 May 10 |  Athletics
Smyth sets personal bests in US
16 May 10 |  Athletics
US stint boosts Turnbull fitness
12 May 10 |  Athletics
Smyth impresses in season opener
21 Apr 10 |  Athletics
Sprinter Smyth claims Irish title
02 Aug 09 |  Athletics
Smyth claims second Beijing gold
16 Sep 08 |  Disability Sport


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