Peter McDermott reports: Clonliffe great Colm Rooney has been selected to represent Ireland in the Antrim Coast International 5K on August 23. This comes 24 years after Colm’s first International selection back in October 2002 when he was picked to run for Ireland in the Junior Mile held in conjunction with The Great North Run in Newcastle.
The race took place on October 5 2002, the British media were confident that Chris Parr, the young English man whom they were describing as the next Coe or Ovett , would easily win the race. The early pace was set by Dominic McAllister from Belfast but , at half way , Parr glided into the lead . BBC commentators were assuring their viewers that the predicted script was being followed and that it was only a question of by how much would the British boy win . But , with 200m. to go , these same commentators were left scrambling to identify the small lad in a green vest who had the temerity to challenge Parr . It was the first time that these “ experts” experienced what became known as the Rooney Turbo and poor Parr was left floundering in Colm’s wake.
Colm won pulling up in 4:14 . McAllister was pipped for 3rd. on the line by an English lad who rejoiced in the name of Stephen Murphy . Colm went on to have a brilliant cross country season , winning the Dublin Novice , Dublin Junior , Dublin Intermediate and , the jewel in the crown , the National Junior. He finished a fine 14th. in the European Junior XC in December of that year .
It is surely a tribute to his dedication and commitment that he is still winning International vests all these years later . Undoubtedly, an inspiration to us all . Nil D.
