Ciarán Ó Lionáird

Ciarán Ó Lionáird (born 11 April 1988) is an Irish runner from Cork.[1] He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 1500 metres.[2] At the 2013 European Athletics Indoor Championships in March, he came 3rd in the Men's 3000 metres.[3][4]

Ciarán Ó Lionáird
Ciarán Ó Lionáird (second from left) at the 2013 European Indoor Championships
Personal information
NationalityIrish
Born (1988-04-11) April 11, 1988
Cork, Ireland
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight137 lb (62 kg)
Websitewww.ciaranolionaird.com
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Middle-distance running
College teamMichigan Wolverines '09,
Florida State Seminoles '11
ClubNike Oregon Track Club Elite
Turned pro2011
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m: 3:34.46

1 Mile: 3:52.10
3000 m: 7:50.40

5000 m: 13:33
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Ireland
European Indoor Championships
2013 Göteborg3000 m

Early years

Ciaran grew up just outside Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. He attended De La Salle College, Macroom, where he was an Irish Schools 1500 metre champion.[5] Ciaran first took up running at age 7 with West Muskerry AC,[6] but at age 12 joined Leevale to become coached by Der O'Donovan. It was at Leevale that Ciaran improved his times and ran an Irish Youths indoor record of 3:50 at age 16.[7] He went on to win a bronze medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Lignano in 2005 as well as taking 10th place in the World Youth Championships, both over the metric mile.[8]

NCAA

In 2006, having finished school, Ciaran decided to take up a scholarship at the University of Michigan under Coach Ron Warhurst where he earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference three years in 2006, 2007 and 2008.[9] After numerous season-ending injuries (osteitis pubis, L5 disc herniation, hip bursitis) he decided to transfer to Florida State University in 2009. A recurrence of Ciaran’s back disc injury in 2010 led to 6 months on the sidelines and with surgery imminent, he thought his running career might well be over.[10] However, he battled through a summer of intense therapy and came back in the Autumn of 2010 to become All American at the NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship.[11]

Post College

At the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Ciaran qualified through a tactical first round[12] - tactical meaning slower than qualifying time of 3:36 pace for early part of the race where strategy of moving faster in latter parts of the race can be used to improve finish order. Ciaran ran 3:36 in the semi-final to qualify for the IAAF World championship final in his first Major Championship appearance.[13] In the final of 2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 1500 metres, he placed 10th.[14] Ciaran O'Lionaird of Ireland ran 3:50.12 at 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 1500 metres and placed 22nd. The 2011 World Championship provided him with valuable experience ahead of the London Olympics in 2012.[15] Ciaran did not advance to semi-final at Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres.[16] Ciarán O'Lionáird of Ireland ran 7:50.40 at 2013 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's 3000 metres earned a bronze medal. Ciarán Ó Lionáird ran 3:39.79 at 2014 European Athletics Championships – Men's 1500 metres to advance to the final.

References
  1. "Athlete Profiles: Ciaran O'Lionaird". RTÉ. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  2. "Profile London 2012". London 2012 Official Site. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. "Bronze delight for Ó Lionáird". Irish Examiner. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  4. "Ciaran O'Lionaird takes bronze for Ireland in Gothenburg". Irish Independent. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  5. "Ciaran O'Lionaird University of Michigan track and field biography (2010)". mgoblue.com. University of Michigan Wolverines. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  6. "Ciaran O'Lionaird U15 track and field record". athleticsireland.ie. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  7. "Interviews with Ciarán Ó Lionáird – Leevale Athletic Club, Cork, Ireland". leevale.org. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  8. "2005 European Youth Olympic Festival". Athletics Ireland. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  9. "Florida State University Ciarán Ó Lionáird biography". seminoles.com. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  10. "Florida State University Ciarán Ó Lionáird Back From the Brink". Runner's World. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  11. "Florida State University 2011 NCAA Cross Country Almanac" (PDF). Florida State University. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  12. "first round results - 1500 METRES MEN 13TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS KOREA DAEGU (DS), KOREA 27 AUG 2011 - 04 SEP 2011". IAAF. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  13. "Semi-final round results - 1500 METRES MEN 13TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS KOREA DAEGU (DS), KOREA 27 AUG 2011 - 04 SEP 2011". IAAF. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  14. "Final round results - 1500 METRES MEN 13TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS KOREA DAEGU (DS), KOREA 27 AUG 2011 - 04 SEP 2011". IAAF. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  15. "Athlete Q&A – Ciaran O'Lionaird". The Running Review. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  16. "First round results - 1500 METRES MEN London Olympics Track and Field". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
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