Rio calling for Clohisey

RAHENY Shamrocks’ Mick Clohisey had his ticket to August’s OIympic Games rubber-stamped on Monday evening to take part in the marathon as Athletics Ireland confirmed their line-up.
After a 17-month qualification period where the competition for the three Irish places was extremely tight, Clohisey got the nod for one of Ireland’s qualification places when the selection committee announced their choices.
The Shamrocks’ long distance runner had posted a time of 2.15.35 in Berlin last September that had given him the third-fastest qualifying time in the Irish race to Rio.
Clohisey, however, went into February’s Seville marathon knowing that his place on the plane was far from secure and registered an impressive personal best of 2.15.11, finishing tenth and shaving 24 seconds off his previous best time.
That result moved the Raheny runner up to second place on the qualifying time table ahead of the selection committee’s decision.
The decision to run in Seville and the time that Clohisey recorded seems to have played a major role in securing his ticket to Brazil after the third-fastest time holder Sergiu Ciobanu was placed on the standby list and fourth-fastest Paul Pollock controversially getting the nod for one of the three places in the team.
Speaking to the Dublin City Gazette after hearing of his selection for Team Ireland, Clohisey said he was overjoyed at the decision.
“I’m of course delighted to be selected for the team and it is a great honour for me and my family. I have being showing good form in my running of late and it has paid off with the selection” said the Raheny Shamrocks runner.
Clohisey believes that he made the right choice to run in the Seville marathon in February instead of the London race in April as it has allowed him more recovery time ahead of the trip to Rio.
“There was some pressure leading up to the Seville race as I knew my place was far from secure but I felt strong and I have been progressing well with each race. It was the right decision to run there.”
Now, just over two months away from the 31st summer Olympics, the Shamrocks man is in full preparation mode with the backing of his club and sponsors.
“My preparations are going well and I will go to Portugal for a training camp to get used to running in the heat. There is also the European half marathon in Amsterdam in July and I will be taking part in that race too.
“My club Raheny Shamrocks have been great in helping me with funding and also Spar Ireland have helped me out too so I’m grateful for that.”