“This is one of the great last laps you’ll ever see.”
The words of the Flotrack commentary team after Brian Fay’s sensational performance last Thursday night at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.
The 23-year-old Dubliner took another giant leap forward in his career clocking a new 5000m Personal Best of 13.16.52 to take victory. The performance moves Fay to 5th on the Irish All-Time list over the distance, moving ahead of greats such as John Treacy and Eamon Coughlan.
Fay, who is now studying History at the University of Washington, launched a seismic comeback in the last lap to overtake Morgan Beadlescomb of Michigan State University who appeared to have all but have the race won.
With 200 metres to go Fay still had a significant distance to make up but as Beadlescomb continued to tire, Fay quickly gained ground, passing him in the last 40 metres to take the win.
The time sees Fay go 6th on the All-Time collegiate list and it was also both a University of Washington and Raheny Shamrocks AC record.
Fay has been in sensational form since moving to America last summer after he completed his course in Dublin City University.
In December at the European Cross Country Championships in Abbottstown he led the Irish Men’s team home, finishing in 10th position and giving the home crowd plenty to shout about. He also had a superb Indoor season, running a 13.24 5000m on an oversized track which is the quickest time ever Indoors by an Irishman but due to oversized track is not ratified as a National record.
Several other Irish athletes also performed fantastically at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Another standout result came from Fiona Hawkins of Celtic DCH AC, who broke the Irish U20 5000m record. Hawkins was representing Adams State University and ran a time of 16.07.55, to finish 6th. That was good enough to take the record which was only set last year from Laura Mooney.
Cathal Doyle and Ava O’Connor both moved to the top of the Irish Outdoor seasons list over 1500m. Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers AC) ran a new PB of 3.38.05 while representing University of Portland. O’Connor also produced her fastest ever time over the distance clocking 4.21.37. The Tullamore Harriers athlete was racing for Adams State.
While the Outdoor season may still be in its very early stages these performances certainly bode well for what should be an exciting summer of athletics.
