For anyone who hasn't done athletics, it's bloody hard. Think running around a track a couple of times looks relatively easy? Take a trip out to your local athletics track and try it. You'll be on your hands and knees by the finish.
And that's without the added hindrance of a rope getting tied around your legs towards the end of your run.
NUIG's Aengus Meldon was leading his heat of the men's 800 metres at the Irish indoor athletics intervarsities, looking strong ahead of Paul Peppard, when something happened that is sure to appear on the 'What Happened Next' round in A Question of Sport at some point. The bungee rope used for the pole vault warm-up somehow launched itself on to the track, tying up Attwood and leaving him having to waddle to the line (dangerously, it initially wrapped around his neck).
The commentator's reaction on the online feed provided by nTrai is absolutely brilliant, incredibly Irish and sums up the ridiculousness of the scenario perfectly.
(Video credit: nTrai)
An incredible piece of misfortune for poor Meldon, and Peppard duly took advantage, winning the heat. Happily, Meldon was given a place in the final, which was won by Conall Hayes.
The drama (and the commentator's reaction) reminded us of one of our favourite moments from Irish student athletics: UCC's 'from the depths of hell' moment at the 2016 IUAA outdoor championships.
