BERGIN CLAIMS DOUBLE SPRINT GOLD AS CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS FALL
Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) retained her indoor sprint titles in the 60m and 200m at today’s 123.ie Junior and U23 Indoor Championships, while several championship records also fell across the busy day’s action at the TUS International Arena in Athlone (January 20th).
Bergin secured the double gold (U23) in impressive fashion, taking the 60m earlier in the day with a 7.62 PB before going on to claim the 200m title in 24.54.
The men’s U20 1500m was billed as one of the races of the day and it did not disappoint with FOUR athletes running under the championships record.
Jack Fenlon (St. Abbans AC) led home the stacked field in a winning time of 3:51.75 CR. Cian Gorham (St. Peter's AC) 3:52.47 and Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers) 3:53.59 followed Fenlon home in a race which was wide open at the bell.
Tallaght look to have another sprint star in the making in the form of Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) who stormed to gold in the U20 60m race, crossing in a winning time of 6.84 which equalled Israel Olatunde’s 2021 championship record.
Leevale’s Reece Ademola sailed to a superb championship record of 7.17CR in the men’s U23 long jump competition with several of his failed attempts finishing far beyond that mark.
- Full list of results Here
Championship Summary
Eimear McCarroll (Finn Valley AC U20) picked up the first track medal of the day, running down Donore’s Emily Bolton on the 1500m line to claim gold in a winning time of 4:32.71.
The women’s U23 1500m race turned into a dual between Eimear Maher (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 4:32.11 and Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC) 4:32.63, with Maher’s turn of foot over the final 400m proving decisive.
Kilkenny’s Cathal O’Reilly (KCH) showed no ill effects from his busy cross country season to dominate the men’s race in a winning time of 3:53.55.
Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) lived up to the favourites tag in the 60m (U23), while Nkemjika Onumereh (Metro/St. Brigids AC) picked up gold in the men’s U23 race in 6.84. Bergin would also go on to take the 200m title in a winning time of 24.54.
The men’s U20 400m had a very Galway flavour to it with the Mannion twins blocking out the top two positions on the podium.
David Mannion (South Galway AC) 48.52 was pushed all the way for gold by brother Stephen (South Galway AC) in 48.74, while Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) rounded out the podium for the West to take bronze in 49.06.
Niamh Murray (Bray Runners AC) very much looked the class of a quality field in the U20 women’s 400m, gliding to gold in a winning time of 54.95.
The stars of Neil Culhane (Ace AC) 1:54.09 and Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers AC) 2:10.73 continue to rise with both athletes taking their respective U20 800m titles with ultra-confident performances.
Matthew Glennon (Mullingar Harriers AC) picked up the men’s U23 3K Walk title in a winning time of 12:09.49 ahead of Moy Valley’s Jake O’Brien in 12:09.99.
There was a superb entry in the women’s U20 3k Walk where Tuam’s Savanagh O’Callaghan walked away to gold with over 14 seconds to spare on her nearest challenger to cross in 14:50.19. Ciara Wilson Bowen (Dundrum South Dublin AC) secured silver in 15:04.80 with Aoife Tuthill (Bandon AC), younger sister to hammer throw star Nicola Tuthill, walking away with bronze in 15:28.07.
There were several outstanding performances in the field events. The high jump competitions provided some of the most compelling competition across today’s action. 15-year-old Conor Penny (Craughwell AC) continues to impress, clearing 1.95m again today for gold having cleared 2.00m for the first-time last weekend. He was pushed all the way by Clane’s Alex Heeney who bowed out at 1.90m.
The U20 women’s competition was just as enthralling with Siun Quinn (Brothers Pearse AC) eventually left out on her own, bowing out on 1.76m which was just .01 off the championship record. Tara O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards AC) 1.70m and Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic AC) 1.65m completed the podium.
Ciara Sheehy (Emerald AC) smashed her indoor PB to take the U23 shot title with a best throw of 14.40m, while Andrew Cooper (Gowran AC) picked up the U20 gold with a huge 17.54m best which was over two meters further than his nearest competitor.
Cooper would also go on to set a championship record in the WFD event with a best of 8.93 CR, as did Robert Higgins (Na Fianna AC) who threw a 9.35 CR in the U23 competition.
Select Results:
Men’s U20 60m
1 AIGBOBOH, Sean U20M Tallaght A.C. 6.84 = CR
2 MOFFATT, Jamie U20M North Down A.C. 6.96
3 OSAS, Osamudiamen Jesse U20M Ratoath A.C. 7.00
Men’s U23 60m
1 ONWUMEREH, Nkemjika U23 M Metro/St. Brigids A.C. 6.84
2 FARRELLY, Michael U23 M Raheny Shamrock A.C. 6.95
3 AYAVORO, Runo U23 M Newbridge A.C. 6.96
Women’s U20 60m
1 COLFER, Leila U20W St. L. O'Toole A.C. 7.62
2 FALVEY, Hannah U20W Belgooly A.C. 7.67
3 DOHERTY, Katie U20W Ratoath A.C. 7.69
Women’s U23 60m
1 BERGIN, Katie U23 W Moyne A.C. 7.62
2 KELLY, Aisling U23 W U.C.D. A.C. 7.90
3 ASPELL, Hannah U23 W Celbridge A.C. 7.93
Women’s U20 60m Hurdles
1 BACKARI, Okwu U20W Leevale A.C. 8.61
2 O'NEILL, Veronica U20W City of Derry A.C. Spartans 8.83
3 FITZSIMONS, Caoimhe U20W Ratoath A.C. 9.02
Men’s U23 60m Hurdles
1 NOLAN, Adam U23 M St. L. O'Toole A.C. 8.09
2 MCGRATH, Jack U23 M Leevale A.C. 8.62
3 OSAS, Emmanuel U23 M Ratoath A.C. 8.67
Men’s U23 200m
1 BAIRD, Callum Ballymena and Antrim A.C. 21.49
2 DEAN, William U23 M Roscommon A.C. 21.72
3 MURPHY, Darragh U23 M Limerick A.C. 22.21
Women’s U23 200m
1 BERGIN, Katie U23 W Moyne A.C. 24.54
2 GUION, Emma U23 W Lagan Valley A.C. 24.97
3 CRONIN, Caoimhe U23 W Le Chéile A.C. 25.81
Men’s U20 400m
1 MANNION, David U20M South Galway A.C. 48.52
2 MANNION, Stephen U20M South Galway A.C. 48.74
3 DOGGETT, Sean U20M Athenry A.C. 49.06
Women’s U20 400m
1 MURRAY, Niamh U20W Bray Runners A.C. 54.95
2 ZAKHARENKO, Maria U20W Kilcoole A.C. 55.15
3 MADDEN, Camille U20W Kilcoole A.C. 56.48
Men’s U23 400m
1 DOODY, Joe U23 M Cabinteely A.C. 48.67
2 DOYLE, David U23 M Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 49.99
3 AIDOO, Joseph U23 M Letterkenny A.C. 50.12
Women’s U23 400m
1 O'CONNELL, Kate U23 W Lucan Harriers A.C. 55.71
2 MCCOURT, Lauren U23 W Bandon A.C. 55.72
3 CRONIN, Caoimhe U23 W Le Chéile A.C. 57.18
Men’s U20 1500m
1 FENLON, Jack U20M St. Abbans A.C. 3:51.75 CR
2 GORHAM, Cian U20M St. Peter's A.C. 3:52.47
3 CRONIN, Sean U20M Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:53.59
Women’s U20 1500m
1 MC CARROLL, Eimear U20W Finn Valley A.C. 4:32.71
2 BOLTON, Emily U20W Donore Harriers 4:32.72
3 FOSTER, Lucy U20W Willowfield Harriers 4:38.53
Men’s U23 1500m
1 O REILLY, Cathal U23 M Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 3:53.55
2 SMITH, Colin P U23 M Mullingar Harriers A.C. 3:55.4
3 KENNY, Gavin U23 M Bandon A.C. 3:58.08
Women’s U23 1500m
1 MAHER, Eimear U23 W Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 4:32.11
2 HOLMES, Lucy U23 W West Waterford A.C. 4:32.63
3 JACKMAN, Sophie U23 W St. Senans A.C. 4:34.19
Men’s U20 800m
1 CULHANE, Neil U20M Ace A.C. 1:54.09
2 O’REILLY, Senan U20M St. Catherines A.C. 1:55.20
3 O SULLIVAN, Odhrán U20M Midleton A.C. 1:56.88
Women’s U20 800m
1 FITZGERALD, Saoirse U20W Lucan Harriers A.C. 2:10.73
2 RICHIE, Zoie U20W Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. A.C. 2:11.03
3 CROWLEY, Claire U20W Leevale A.C. 2:14.76
Men’s U23 800m
1 DONOGHUE, Dara U23 M Lucan Harriers A.C. 1:56.85
2 KELLY, Oisin U23 M Cranford A.C. 1:57.09
3 WOODGER, Finn U23 M Metro/St. Brigids A.C. 1:57.10
Women’s U23 800m
1 NESTOR, Susie U23 W U.C.D. A.C. 2:14.17
2 LANE, Sarah U23 W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 2:17.60
3 RYAN, Kayla U23 W Ratoath A.C. 2:19.34
Men’s U23 3K Walk
1 GLENNON, Matthew U23 M Mullingar Harriers A.C. 12:09.49
2 O BRIEN, Jake U23 M Moy Valley A.C. 12:09.99
Women’s U20 3k Walk
1 O'CALLAGHAN, Savanagh U20W Tuam A.C. 14:50.19
2 WILSON BOWEN, Ciara U20W Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 15:04.80
3 TUTHILL, Aoife U20W Bandon A.C. 15:28.07
Men’s U23 Long Jump
1 ADEMOLA, Reece U23 M Leevale A.C. 7.17 CR
2 KNIGHT, Jordan U23 M St. Joseph's A.C. 6.63
3 THOMPSON, Oisin U23 M Finn Valley A.C. 6.54
Women’s U23 Long Jump
1 FRAWLEY, Laura U23 W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 5.51
2 NOLKE, Katie U23 W Ferrybank A.C. 5.45
3 IGWE, Paula U23 W Ferrybank A.C. 5.20
Women’s U23 Triple Jump
1 RYAN, Anna U23 W Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. 11.82
2 MC DONAGH, Caoimhe U23 W South Sligo A.C. 11.24
3 KREMER, Louise U23 W Waterford A.C. 11.19
Men’s U23 Triple Jump
1 KNOX, Joshua U23 M City of Lisburn A.C. 13.69
2 ONWUDIWE, David U23 M Ennis Track A.C. 12.98
3 SWEENEY, Leon U23 M Naas A.C. 12.46
Men’s High Jump
1 PENNEY, Conor U20M Craughwell A.C. 1.95
2 HEENEY, Alex U20M Clane A.C. 1.90
3 ONOH, Ryan U20M Leevale A.C. 1.85
Women’s U20 High Jump
1 QUINN, Siun U20W Brothers Pearse A.C. 1.76
2 O'CONNOR, Tara U20W Dundalk St. Gerards A.C. 1.70
3 ROCHFORD, Ava U20W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 1.65
Women’s U23 Pole Vault
1 O’NEILL, Abbie U23 W City of Lisburn A.C. 3.30
2 Ní MHADAGáIN, Caoilfhionn U23 W Lusk A.C. 2.40
Men’s U20 Shot Put
1 COOPER, Andrew U20M Gowran A.C. 17.54
2 SHAW, Liam U20M Athenry A.C. 15.09
3 O NEILL, Finn U20M Lifford Strabane A.C. 13.54
Women’s U23 Shot Put
1 SHEEHY, Ciara U23 W Emerald A.C. 14.40
2 MC MAHON, Aoibhín U23 W Blackrock (Louth) A.C. 12.50
3 FRAWLEY, Laura U23 W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 10.34
Men’s U20 WFD
1 COOPER, Andrew U20M Gowran A.C. 8.93 CR
2 ANDERSON, Alex John U20M Tír Chonaill A.C. 7.65
3 SHAW, Liam U20M Athenry A.C. 7.17
Women’s U20 WFD
1 PACERINSKAITE, Kotryna U20W Fanahan Mc Sweeney A.C. 7.85CR
2 KENNEDY, Claire U20W Birr A.C. 7.83
3 ANDERSON, Ava Jean U20W Tír Chonaill A.C. 7.42
Men’s U23 WFD
1 HIGGINS, Robert U23 M Na Fianna A.C. 9.35 CR
2 MC CARTHY, Padraic U23 M Lios Tuathail A.C. 7.64
3 ÓMUIRí, Cóil U23 M Fr. Murphy A.C. 7.34
Women’s U23 WFD
1 FRAWLEY, Laura U23 W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 6.90
2 MC MAHON, Aoibhín U23 W Blackrock (Louth) A.C. 5.70
Results HERE