Personal best for Louis at Olympic Youth Festival
LOUIS O’Loughlin overcame recent injury troubles to record a personal best time, and make the final of the 800m at the European Olympic Youth Festival in Gyor Hungary.
The Donore Harriers’ athlete only returned to the track in April and, despite having a much shorter window with less races upon which to try gain the Qualifying time for the Championships, he notched up an impressive time of 1.55.28 on the track at Tallaght Athletic Club, and thus booked his place in Hungary.
In the semi-finals of the Euro Under-17s 800m race, the Clondalkin runner lined up alongside highly fancied French and Polish competitors.
At the 200m metres mark, he was to place himself at the front of the field, and it was a position he was to maintain till the end.
With his opponents boring down on him at the home straight, O’Loughlin dug deep and crossed the line in a Personal Best time of 1:54:96.
With less than 24 hours until the final, the Donore Harrier’s man had little time to regain his composure and fitness levels.
The expectations of many were that the final would be a very tactical race, and so it turned out to be.
O’Loughlin gave it is his all, but with three athletes posting Personal Bests, it just wasn’t to be, as he finished in seventh overall, with a time of 1:56:98.
The Gold Medal went to Djoao Lobles of the Netherlands who recorded a Championship Record time of 1:50.72.
His coach Gerry Naughton said afterwards: “The final was much quicker than anticipated, and turned out to be the highest quality race of the championships”
“We must remember Louis was doing rehab in April after missing a few months of proper running practice due to injury”
As for what the future holds, Naughton added: “He certainly has the quality and the attitude to be a big star in the sport, and everyone is so proud of him”.
Given his injury troubles of late,
it was a remarkable European Olympic Youth Festival for Louis
O’Loughlin.
TAGS Sport
