A legend came to town at the weekend of 19-20 February as 1983 World 5000 metres champion Eamonn Coghlan visited the Irish Indoors at the Odyssey.Eamonn has broken four minutes for the mile on 82 occasions including a sub 3 minutes 50 clocking. He was the first to break the barrier as a 40 year old. We put some questions to him
WHAT STARTED YOU IN ATHLETICS
My Dad Bill was President of Irish Athletics for 3 years and used to take me to meetings. Then I had a schoolmate who was in a club and I went along with him. I quickly found that I liked running better than soccer as it was an individual sport.
WHICH SPORTSMAN DID YOU ADMIRE MOST
Muhammed Ali Dad you used to wake me in the middle of the night to listen to his fights with Sonny Liston. I was also a red hot fan of the Dublin Football team I would have given anything to play for the Dubs. My father worked on the sound system at Croke Park so we were regular visitors.
YOU GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO VILANOVA IN THE USA. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT
I was just out of school and in fact was only the second to be picked after Tom Gregan who had run 4 mins 01 There was a great tradition at the University for Irish athletes going back to Ronnie Delaney and beyond.
DESCRIBE THE USA COLLEGIATE SYSTEM
It is fantastic for bridging the gap between 18 and 22 years. We came under the influence of the legendary coach Jumbo Elliott. He ran Track and Field like his very successful business and got fantastic results. The competition was intense but it gave us a very positive outlook and we knew how and when to raise our game.
YOU OBVIOUSLY LOVED INDOORS BEING KNOWN AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
It was great -11 laps to the mile on wood! Everyone said that it was my build and style that led to success and a sub 3-50 but there were plenty of tall athletes like Ray Flynn, John Walker and Steve Scott who enjoyed Indoors.
YOU WERE TWICE 4TH IN THE OLYMPICS HOW DID THAT FEEL
Sometimes when Ilook at the 1976 1500 metres on tv I wished that Ihadn't taken the lead so early but whats done is done. In 1980 I was a little naive in the 5000.
IT ALL WENT RIGHT IN THE WORLDS IN 1983 WHAT CHANGED
I had been injury free for over a year. Ihad probably overtrained in 1980. This time mind and body were great and Iknew that Iwas going to strike Gold.
WHY WERE THE LATE SEVENTIES AND EARLY EIGHTIES A GOLDEN ERA FOR IRISH ATHLETES WITH YOURSELF, MARCUS O'SULLIVAN, FRANK O'MARA, JOHN TREACY AND MANY OTHERS
It comes in cycles. We were al determined to make it. There were less distractions. Now Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic are getting great tv coverage and there is mega money in some sports.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PRESENT STATE OF IRISH ATHLETICS
There has been great improvement in a range of disciplines. Sprinters Paul Hession and Ailis McSweeney, Hurdler Derval O'Rourke and Hammer Thrower Eileen O'Keefe all come to mind while there are at least 12 middle distance runners who can run sub four.
Ciara Mageean is a brilliant prospect. She has achieved a lot but still has a way to go and must not fee pressurised by comparisons with Sonia O'Sullivan who did not have that burden. Ciara, helped by coach Eamonn Christie has limitless potential.
YOU ARE NOW ON THE IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL
Yes I am chair of the committee for the high performance programme. We look at all sports to maintain high standards.
IS FUNDING SATISFACTORY AS WE COME TOWARDS THE 2012 OLYMPICS
The carded athletes are well funded. I would like to see more money directed towards Indoor training and competition facilities. The new Athlone venue will be great as, unlike the Odyssey it will be available all year round. Ideally there should be an Indoor venue in each province.
HAVE YOU HAD SUPPORT FROM YOUR FAMILY
Yes my wife Yvonne who I have known since we were kids is fantastic and has been with me every step of the way.
DO YOUR CHILDREN FOLLOW IN YOUR ATHLETICS FOOTSTEPS
John, the youngest, is a middle distance champion, Suzanne has a career in Banking, Eamonn is a Golf professional in Alabama and roomed with Ulster star Gareth Maybin at college while Michael is an aspiring tv and film actor.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION
We have a house in the Costa Del Sol, Spain.
WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MOMENT IN ATHLETICS
Winning the World 5000 in Helsinki and running a sub four mile at 40 plus
AND YOUR WORST
Only 4th in two Olympics after winning all round from 1976 to 1980.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG ATHLETES
Train consistently. Look at the big picture not just one race at a time. Write down targets and move from one plateau to another.
CAN YOU SUM UP YOUR CAREER
I got a tremendous lot out of the sport since starting as a 12 year old. I thoroughly enjoyed each race and do not look back with any regrets.
It was a privelege to chat to Eamonn, a true legend in any era.
Interview by Dave McKibbin for the Newsletter
60m is over so fast that there is barely any time to think about the race. By the time you are up into your running, the line is there right in front of you. People say, Ahh sure its only 60, over in a flash! This is true although it takes a lot of effort to overcome your competition in such a short distance. All about the start? If this was true then I’d be lovin’ it! There is still a lot to work on in order to achieve my potential over the distance.
Training for 60s can be very repetitive and difficult to finish when your head isn’t there but in the end you just gotta knuckle down and get it done! I had ups and downs in training leading up to the indoors but the ups gave me confidence and kept my mind set on my targets for the indoor season.
Jordanstown, my own patch, was the venue for my first 60 of the season. You can never expect too much for a first race but I had a time in the back of my mind. Equalled PB, 6.89s. Couldn’t complain. Very promising start!
On to Loughborough to build on a decent result. It was weird staying somewhere on my lonesome, when staying with groups was what I was used to. All about the independence I guess.
On the start, standing next to two European Junior 100m finalists, I had to keep reminding myself that I would be in the mix. Finishing 2nd and beating the European Junior bronze medalist was the silver lining as I thought my time would be quicker than 6.92s and I tweaked my hamstring after 40m :( It’s hard not to think that the trip was a complete waste as the 2nd race was out of the question, but you always have to take away the positives.
Nenagh! It may freeze the face off you, but I love the track. The Irish University Championships took place there in early February. As UU captain, making sure our team were sorted and ready to compete was at the front of my mind but when it came down to it, I was focused on my race.
6.95s in the heats, quickest qualifier, happy enough. Now for the final! Setting up my blocks for a practice start, it never entered my mind that I would have to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision. Years of my coach shouting not to stop abruptly suddenly made sense. My calves tightened and cramped. Game over. It’s hard to hide the panic and anger of something unexpected like that. I got to about 5 metres in the race before the same feeling grabbed my legs again. It’s also hard to watch the rest of the field run away from you as the win you had hoped for disappears as well as the prospect of a free pair of trainers. Accidents happen. Time to forget and move on to the next goal.
In my case, the next goal took place in the Irish Indoors at the Odyssey Arena on the 19th and 20th February. Heats on the Saturday, semi and final on the Sunday. The plan was to blast the heat to build confidence.
6.85s! I couldn’t have asked for a better start. The much sought after PB in the bag in the first round. It’s important to cool down, go home early, reflect on a good day and look forward to the second day.
It’s easy to get thrown by incidents at the start of a race. The semi-final was an example of this. We had ran 40m before being called back for a false start. In the back of your mind you’re thinking, was it me? :/ but you’ve gotta have faith in your start that you won’t jump the gun. B of the Bang as they say.
6.86s! Just squeezed first place despite that feeling beginning to creep back into my calves. A good time considering! A bit of sports massage always was going to ease my mind before the final. Really appreciated it that weekend.
Its almost overwhelming to think that all the training and mental battles all come down to a 7 second blur. I had hoped they wouldn’t play the Rocky music as we stood behind our blocks as it would only enhance my nerves, but they did. You have get the fact that your family and girlfriend are watching you out of your head! It ain’t easy!
On your marks....Set....Bang! Drive, drive, drive! Up into my running and so close to my goal. An involuntary ‘Yeah!!!!’ comes out as I dive over the line. 6.85s. What a feeling. I hope I’ll have more like that.
Determination and hard work really do pay off. So I didn’t get the qualifying time to take me to Paris for the European Indoor Championships. Plenty more chances in the future with some more improvements. I did however win my first senior title, previously won by sprinters such as Paul Hession and Paul Brizzel. I’ll take that! Now to try convert that feeling to the end of a 100m in the summer.
Dean Adams
