From the AAI Site at http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=5399

Athletics Ireland ‘Athlete of the Year’ Paul Hession, who has brought Irish sprinting to a new level, has ended 2008 with yet another accolade. The prestigious Track & Field News, the ‘Bible of the Sport’ has ranked Paul at Number 8 for 200m, giving him his first World top 10 ranking. T&FN’s 8th place ranking is one place higher than another equally prestigious publication, Athletics International who have ranked him at number 9. Both publications rank him at number 1 European over 200m, just reward for an exciting and brilliant year.

Two other Irish Olympians, Robert Heffernan and Olive Loughnane both make the top ten with both publications. After some tremendous performances Olive Loughnane is ranked at Number 6 with T&FN (5th European), one place higher than Athletics International, while Robert Heffernan is ranked at Number 8 (4th European) in both publications.

All three athletes will be in action at the Irish Indoors Athletics championships at the Odyssey Belfast on 7/8th February.

Online entry is available at www.indoorathletics.net