DAVID MC CARTHY BECOMES THE FIRST WATERFORD MAN EVER TO BREAK THE MAGIC 4-MINUTE BARRIER FOR THE MILE.
We predicted some time ago that it was going to happen at some stage, but to be honest I for one never thought it was going to happen as soon as this and with such an overwhelming and decisive stamp of approval.
Last Valentine’s Day, Saturday, when many were celebrating with roses and Chocolates one young West Waterford man David McCarthy was celebrating a big day for him in his own formidable way by making local athletics history by becoming the very first Waterford person to break the Magic 4 minute mile when in Boston at the Valentines Invitational Indoor meet he took a huge leap forward in his running career with a resounding 3.57.75 mile effort, David also becomes the 37th Irish man in history to achieve this feat, and one of the youngest Irish athletes ever to run a sub-four minute mile.
The West Waterford Athletic Club’s star athlete also set a track record with his efforts breaking the old standard by some 2 seconds and to crown the day for him he also won he race itself. David two weeks or so ago ran 4.01 in a very tactical race but on Saturday last he took the race by the collar knowing that he was in top shape to try and firstly make the qualifying time for the Nationals and also to break the four minutes for the mile. A late night E Mail from David Saturday night revealed his obvious delight at achieving this goal at such a young age, and he was delighted also to have made the qualifying time for the
nationals which was his goal from the outset. In his own words he said that he just went for it today no messing about, I needed to get a time in order to make those nationals, now that I have that done the pressure is off somewhat and i can just go out there now and race my upcoming races and not worry about having to make the qualifying time.
The race he went on had a pace maker in place to keep the lap tempo at a high level. The plan was for him to go to the 1.000 meter mark and for fellow Providence team mate and training partner Hayden Mc Laren and me to take up the pace from there. With David and Hayden in such form coming into the race and the pace a tad slower than they expected the pace maker decided at 800 to drop out as the two chasers were hot on his heels, from there David took up the pace before Hayden took over with 400 remaining, then coming off the final bend David kicked past Hayden to record a famous victory and as we said, also broke the track record with his 3.57, the old one was 3:59. McLaren clocked 3.57.78 to finish a very close second.
