Kerry O'Flaherty

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Kerry O'Flaherty

| image = 10068 Kerry O'Flaherty.jpg

| caption = Kerry O'Flaherty at 2015 European Team Championships First League.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|7|15|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Newtownards, Northern Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.67}}

| weight = {{cvt|53|kg}}

| country = Ireland

| sport = Track and field

| event = 3000 metres steeplechase

| coach = Richard Rodgers{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/irish-olympian-kerry-oflaherty-starts-her-day-with-the-old-jane-fonda-routine-37760312.html|title=Irish Olympian Kerry O'Flaherty starts her day with 'the old Jane Fonda routine'|website=Independent|access-date=8 March 2020|date=4 February 2019|last1=Dwyer|first1=Ciara}}

}}

Kerry O'Flaherty (born 15 July 1981) is an Irish runner competing primarily in the 3000 metres steeplechase.{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/ireland/kerry-oflaherty-248865 |title=Kerry O'Flaherty |publisher=IAAF |date=24 August 2015| accessdate=23 August 2015}} She competed at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing without qualifying for the final. O'Flaherty competed in the 2016 Olympic Games. She has also competed at two European Championships and one European Indoor Championships.

Biography

Kerry O'Flaherty was born 15 July 1981 in Newtownards.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kerry-oflaherty-2906595-Aug2016/|title=Meet Ireland's Olympic team: Kerry O'Flaherty|date=3 August 2016|access-date=7 March 2020|last1=O'Toole|first1=Fintan|website=The 42}}{{cite web|url=http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/cycling_road/1034922/kerry_oflaherty.html|title=Kerry O'Flaherty Biography|website=Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games|access-date=8 March 2020}} She runs for Newcastle AC.{{cite web|url=https://nirunning.co.uk/commonwealth-games-2014-a-look-at-the-ni-runners-set-to-compete/|title=Commonwealth Games 2014 – A look at the NI runners set to compete|date=15 September 2016|access-date=7 March 2020|website=NiRunning}}

O'Flaherty completed a sports science degree and studied physical education at Ulster University.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/fitness/kerry-o-flaherty-you-have-to-set-yourself-realistic-targets-and-goals-1.3783998|title=Kerry O'Flaherty: 'You have to set yourself realistic targets and goals'|website=The Irish Times|date=9 February 2019|access-date=4 March 2020|last1=Thompson|first1=Sylvia}}

She began competitively training in 2009. She had hoped to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London but was plagued by an Achilles injury.

She improved on her Northern Ireland 3000m steeplechase record at the 2014 International Flanders Athletics Meeting in Oordegem with a time of 9:52.94, finishing fifth. She was injured at the same event the previous year and missed most of the season due to a faulty water barrier. Her time qualified her for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/sport/2014/06/02/news/o-flaherty-books-her-ticket-to-glasgow-93121/|title=O'Flaherty books her ticket to Glasgow|last1=McCausland|first1=Malcolm|website=The Irish News|date=2 June 2014|access-date=7 March 2020}}

She qualified for the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympics after running a 9:42.61 at the 2015 Letterkenny AC International.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/three-irish-athletes-run-olympic-qualifying-times-in-letterkenny-1.2281145|title=Three Irish athletes run Olympic qualifying times in Letterkenny|date=10 July 2015|access-date=4 March 2020|website=The Irish Times}} She beat her personal best time by ten seconds.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/kerry-o-flaherty-athletics-1.2739370|title=Kerry O'Flaherty - Athletics|date=30 July 2016|first1=Ian|last1=O'Riordan|website=The Irish Times}} O'Flaherty competed in the third heat of the World Championships and finished with a time of 10:05.10. She was disappointed by her finish and did not qualify for the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/more-disappointment-for-irish-on-day-three-in-beijing-1.2326798|title=More disappointment for Irish on day three in Beijing|date=24 August 2015|access-date=4 March 2020|first1=Ian|last1=O'Riordan|website=The Irish Times}}

In the 2016 European Championships, she finished in sixth place, behind her teammate Sara Treacy, and achieved a personal best time of 9:45.53, advancing to the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/emotional-ciara-mageean-celebrates-making-european-championship-final-1.2715097|title=Emotional Ciara Mageean celebrates making European Championship final|date=8 July 2016|access-date=3 March 2020|website=The Irish Times|first1=Ian|last1=O'Riordan}} All three Irish athletes advanced to the finals, the first time ever in any event at the European Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/sonia-o-sullivan-ciara-mageean-now-destined-for-a-higher-level-1.2720761|title=Sonia O’Sullivan: Ciara Mageean now destined for a higher level|date=14 July 2016|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Sonia|website=The Irish Times|access-date=3 March 2020}} She finished in 12th place with 9:45.88.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/ireland-s-ciara-mageean-wins-bronze-at-european-championships-1.2717194|title=Ireland’s Ciara Mageean wins bronze at European Championships|date=10 July 2016|website=The Irish Times|access-date=3 March 2020|first1=Ian|last1=O'Riordan}} She was also part of the bronze-medal winning Irish team that raced at the 2016 European Cross Country Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/35306074|title=Kerry O'Flaherty wades through Antrim mud ahead of Rio Olympic trip|last1=Haughey|first1=John|website=BBC|date=13 January 2016|access-date=7 March 2020}}

O'Flaherty competed in her first Olympics, the 2016 Games in Rio, at the age of 35. She finished the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:45.35, placing 14th in the heat. It was her season best, but she did not advance to the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37069885|title=Rio 2016 Olympics: Kerry O'Flaherty 14th in 3,000m steeplechase heat|date=13 August 2016|access-date=11 March 2020|website=BBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/womeninsport/kerry-oflaherty-waited-22-years-olympic-dream-188159|title=Kerry O'Flaherty: I waited 22 years for my Olympic dream|last1=O'Toole|first1=Jack|website=Sports Joe|access-date=11 March 2020}}

She competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2018 European Championships, but did not qualify for the finals after finishing her heat in 10:09.81 and 17th place.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/ciara-mageean-aware-of-what-s-to-come-in-berlin-showdown-1.3592561|title=Ciara Mageean aware of what's to come in Berlin showdown|date=10 August 2018|website=The Irish Times|access-date=4 March 2020|first1=Ian|last1=O'Riordan}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/45143546|title=European Championships 2018: Ciara Mageean cruises through to 1500m final|date=10 August 2018|access-date=6 March 2020|website=BBC}}

O'Flaherty worked on qualifying for Northern Ireland's 2018 Commonwealth Games team, which had a qualification standard of 9:54.00. She tore her calf muscle in May 2017. O'Flaherty finished a June 2017 race at Huelva in 10:06.86 in 11th. At the 2017 Folksam Grand Prix she narrowly missed, finishing in 9:54.40.{{cite web|url=https://nirunning.co.uk/kerry-oflaherty-narrowly-misses-commonwealth-games-standard-with-seasons-best-in-sweden/|title=Kerry O’Flaherty narrowly misses Commonwealth Games standard with season’s best in Sweden!|website=NiRunning|access-date=8 March 2020|date=11 July 2017}} She successfully met the qualification time at a race four days later in the Memorial Rasschaert.{{cite web|url=https://athleticsni.org/News/Athletics-NI-News/LOCAL-ATHLETES-DELIVER-WORLD-CHAMPIONSHIP-GOLD-MEDALS,-NI-RECORD-AND-COMMONWEALTH-GAMES-STANDARD|title=LOCAL ATHLETES DELIVER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDALS, NI RECORD AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES STANDARD|website=Athletics Northern Ireland|date=18 July 2017|access-date=8 March 2020}} However, since she only met the qualification time once, she was ranked 13th of Northern Ireland's 15 qualified athletes. The team was allocated 11 spots so O'Flaherty was not selected to represent Northern Ireland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.runkerryrun.com/?p=1903|title=The Lows of Sport|last1=O'Flaherty|first1=Kerry|website=Run Kerry Run|access-date=8 March 2020|date=4 January 2018}}

She qualified for the 2018 European Athletics Championships during the IFAM Flanders International. She placed third with 9:53.00, qualifying under the B standard.{{cite web|url=https://nirunning.co.uk/kerry-oflaherty-records-euro-b-standard-as-ni-athletes-impress-in-belgium/|title=Kerry O'Flaherty records Euro 'B' standard as NI athletes impress in Belgium!|website=NiRunning|date=27 May 2018|access-date=8 March 2020}}

In 2019 O'Flaherty was working to qualify for the World Championships. During the European Permit Meeting in Spain, she was hit from behind as she attempted to jump a barrier. When she landed, she broke her fifth metatarsal, ending her hopes to qualify for the World Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/49621468|title=Kerry O'Flaherty: Olympian's season over after she breaks foot in Spanish race|website=BBC|date=7 September 2019|access-date=8 March 2020}}

Statistics

=Personal bests=

class="wikitable"

!Event

!Time

!Venue

!Date

!Notes

1500 metres (indoor)

|4:14.63

|Athlone 2017

|15 February 2017

|{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/european-indoor-athletics-guide-to-ireland-team-in-belgrade-1.2995720|title=European Indoor Athletics: Guide to Ireland team in Belgrade|date=3 March 2017|access-date=4 March 2020|last1=O'Riordan|first1=Ian|website=The Irish Times}}

1500 metres (outdoor)

|4:12.79

|Leixlip 2015

|13 June 2015

|{{cite web|url=https://www.european-athletics.org/athletes/group=o/athlete=130548-oflaherty-kerry/index.html|title=Kerry O'Flaherty|website=European Athletics|access-date=8 March 2020}}

3000 metres (indoor)

|9:11.77

|Athlone 2016

|27 February 2016

3000 metres (outdoor)

|9:09.50

|Banská Bystrica 2009

|20 June 2009

3000 metres steeplechase

|9:42.61

|Letterkenny 2015

|10 July 2015

|{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/team-ireland-at-the-european-athletics-championships-1.3585921|title=Team Ireland at the European Athletics Championships|date=4 August 2018|access-date=4 March 2020|last1=O'Riordan|first1=Ian|website=The Irish Times}}

=Competition record=

{{AchievementTable\|Event=yes}}
colspan="6"\|Representing {{IRL}} and {{NIR}}
2014 \|Commonwealth Games \|Glasgow, United Kingdom \|11th \|3000 m s'chase \|9:55.94
2015 \|World Championships \|Beijing, China \|39th (h) \|3000 m s'chase \|10:05.10
rowspan=2\|2016 \|European Championships \|Amsterdam, Netherlands \|12th \|3000 m s'chase \|9:45.88
Olympic Games \|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil \|34th (h) \|3000 m s'chase \|9:45.35
2017 \|European Indoor Championships \|Belgrade, Serbia \|18th (h) \|1500 m \|4:23.82
2018 \|European Championships \|Berlin, Germany \|32nd (h) \|3000 m s'chase \|10:09.81

colspan="6"|Representing {{IRL}} and {{NIR}}

2014

|Commonwealth Games

|Glasgow, United Kingdom

|11th

|3000 m s'chase

|9:55.94

2015

|World Championships

|Beijing, China

|39th (h)

|3000 m s'chase