2021 was fun..I hope '22 is too

COSCORAN REFLECTS ON GREAT YEAR

- MICHAEL SCULLY

ANDREW COSCORAN can't help but smile as he reflects on the year just passed.

The Balbriggan athlete was very much under the radar as a first-time Olympian in Tokyo, having returned to Ireland in 2016 following an unhappy experience on scholarship at Florida State University.

But he got every ounce from himself on the biggest stage to finish 10th in his Olympic 1500m semi-final in August, a result that was well above expectations when most other Irish track runners failed to live up to their own targets.

“It's been a huge breakthrough year," said Coscoran, who won the National 1500m title in March and also finished 10th in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile.

"I've got to places I didn't think I would and given me a bit of a platform now, an opportunity to strive for higher.

"I've got support behind me now, I've got a good team around and it should only get better from here. Yeah, it was a great year, hopefully I can just keep improving.

His year ended with a close-run fourth place in the mixed relay at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin (right) that was disappointing but there were no regrets.