HEALY CLOCKS WORLD MASTERS RECORD IN ATHLONE
Shane Healy (Metro St. Brigid's Athletics Club) stole the show at today’s 123.ie National Masters Indoor Championships at the TUS International Arena in Athlone, with the MSB athlete clocking a blistering 2.02.46 for 800m to better the previous M55 indoor record by over three seconds*.
Today’s performance comes hot on the heels of Healy’s M55 3000m world indoor record of 8:47.71 which he clocked in Dublin just last weekend, a record that had stood for 44 years.
Away from the record-breaking exploits of Healy, Dundrum’s Avril Dillon W40 (DSD) also shone on the day, picking up yet another 60m hurdles title thanks to her 9.07 performance.
Fellow defending 60m hurdles champion, Ger Cremin M45 (An Riocht AC), also secured his gold thanks to his 9.08.
Gemma Thompson W35 (City of Derry AC Spartans) clocked 26.86 to take top spot in the women's 200m, while Adina Gheorhiu W45 (Dundrum South Dublin AC) posted a 26.75 in a super race with Annette Quaid W45 (Leevale AC) who crossed in 26.78.
Quaid, who was the 2023 Masters Athlete of the Year, returned to the track later where she dominated her preferred 400m event in a time of 58.55.
The 1500m saw several impressive performances including an outstanding run from Michelle Cox W40 (Newbridge AC) who stormed to the 1500m title in 4:56.58. Cox was pushed all the way by Kathryn Casserly of Castlegar AC who crossed in second place in 5:00.91.
Kieran Kelly M35 (Raheny Shamrock AC) lived up to the favourites tag in the men’s 1500m to cross in 4:10.88, he too was pushed all the way from closest rival Joe Warne (Doheny AC) 4:11.16.
David Kidd M40 (St. L. O'Toole AC) took gold in the men's 3,000m walk in a time of 14:24.46, while Michelle During (City of Derry A.C. Spartans) brought out a winning leap of 10.69m to take the women's W35 triple jump crown.
There was another national throws title for Olga Nedvede W40 (Dooneen AC) who took the gold in the women's shot put with a best attempt of 11.42m.
The evergreen Pat Naughton M90 was back in action for Nenagh Olympic AC where he posted a best of 1.56m in the long jump earlier in the day before going on to compete in the 60m and shot put competitions.
- Results Link: HERE
- Photos FOC on Sportsfile
- *Record subject to ratification