IZMIR, Turkey - Fresh off a 15th-place showing at the NCAA Championships, Manhattan College All-American discus thrower Colin Quirke (Los Gatos, Calif.) was back in action at the European Team Championships 1st League on Sunday. Representing Ireland in the continental team competition, Quirke finished 11th in the discus with a toss of 52.05 meters (170 feet, 9¼ inches).
This marked Quirke's second time on an Irish national team. He previously competed at the 2007 World Junior Championships, when he set a national junior record while finishing eighth in the shot put. Manhattan's Brian McGovern (Yonkers, N.Y.) was also on the Irish squad in Izmir, competing in the pole vault. It was the first time McGovern represented Ireland internationally.
The European Team Championships are divided into four divisions, which compete simultaneously at four different sites. Turkey, Greece and Norway finished first, second and third to earn promotion to the Super League, the highest level of the competition. Ireland placed 10th to maintain its spot in the 1st League the next time the event is held.
Also this weekend, former Manhattan star Aliann Pompey opened her 2011 season by winning the 400 meters at a meet in Holmdel, N.J. With a time of 51.92 seconds, the native of Guyana achieved the "B" qualifying standard for the 2011 World Championships, which will be held from August 27-September 4 in Daegu, South Korea.
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