IUAA Outdoor T&F Championship Highlights
The 2023 edition of the Irish University Athletics Association (IUAA) Outdoor Track & Field Championships took place this weekend (21st-22nd April) at the fabulous new DSD track on Tibradden Lane. The first running of this championship took place in 1873, making this the 150th Anniversary of the event, and the longest running varsity athletics championship in the world. The wet and windy weather over the weekend did not deter the more than 400 athletes who turned out to represent their universities over the two days of competition.
Day 1
The highlight of the first day of competition was undoubtably Michaela Walsh’s new IUAA record of 14.86m in the shotput. Walsh of DCU closed out her stellar varsity career with a ninth gold medal and third IUAA shot put record (having also broken her own indoor shot put record at the Indoor Championships this year).
Fiona Everard followed up her victory in the recent IUAA Cross Country Championship with a gold medal in the 5,000m, clocking an NUIG record with her time of 17.11. Aoife O’Cuill was second in 17.14, closely followed by Lucy Barrett in 3rd who also achieved a college record for UCD with her time of 17.15.
World U20 finalist Reece Ademola of Munster Technical University struck gold in the long jump, his mark of 7.07m putting him clear of Luke O’Carroll and Joe Miniter of UL.
Other gold medallists on the first day of action included Euan Caniffe of DCU (javelin), Aoibhín McMahon of DCU (javelin), Erin Fisher of QUB (long jump), Aoife O’Sullvan of MTU (high jump), Jack Forde of DCU (high jump), Christof Steiner of UCD (shot put), Katie Nolke of DCU (100mH), José Ignacio Giminez Perez of UL (10,000m), and Shona O’Brien of UCC (1500m).
Day 2
On day 2 of the Championship, Nicola Tuthill’s new National U23 record of 65.74m in the hammer throw earned her a gold medal and a new UCD record. A new IUAA and DCU record was set by Sean McGinley in the 3000m steeplechase, his time of 8.56.90 also counting for a European u23 Championship standard.
In the men’s 200m, Irish indoor record holder and race favourite Mark Smyth was the winner in 20.95 secs with a DCU record. Another DCU record was set by Jack Raftery in the 400m, his time of 46.59 quick enough to bag him an IUAA record and a gold medal.
After a tight 12.5 lap battle, Dylan Casey of UL pipped DCU’s Harry Colbert at the line of the 5000m, clocking 14.24 and 14.25 respectively. Casey set a new UL record for the distance in the process, with 3rd place Sean Cotter of NUIG also clocking a new college record with his time of 14.42.
Further individual gold medallists on the second day of competition included Jack Mitchell of UL (400mH), Conor Morey of UCC (100m), Peter Kilgannon of UCD (800m), Mark Hanrahan of UL (1500m), Oisin Lane of UL (3000mW), Cara Murphy of UCD (400mH), Sarah Leahy of UL (100m), Susie Nestor of UCD (800m), Molly Hourihan of UCD (200m), Miriam Daly of UL (400m), Róisín O’Reilly of UCD (3000mSC), Siobhan Doherty of DCU (1500mW), Brendan O’Donnell of DCU (hammer), Aisling MacHugh of DCU (triple jump), Matthew Callinan Keenan of DCU (pole vault), Eoin Sheridan of RCSI (discus), Zoe Mohan of DCU (WFD), Brendan Lynch of UL (triple jump), Una Samuels of UCC (pole vault), Robert Higgins of MU (WFD) and Ciara Sheehy of DCU (discus).
Relays
UCD came out on top in the women’s 4x100m with a new college record of 47.61. They were followed by UL in second and MTU in third. DCU nabbed gold in the 4x400m relay ahead of UL and UCD.
On the men’s side, the 4x100m podium consisted of DCU, TUD and UL. The 4x400 saw DCU victorious over UL and TUD.
Combined Events
Jack Forde of DCU came out on top in the men’s pentathlon with 3126 points, and Laura Frawley of UL was the women’s winner with 2813 points. In the Combined events team competition, DCU were first, and UL were second.
Team Standings
Prizes are awarded for the college that collects the most points in each discipline. In the sprints, UL were victorious, and ever strong DCU managed to nab the top spot in throws, jumps and distance events. This left DCU as the winner of the men and women’s team trophies, as well as the overall prize. UL picked up second place overall, and UCD third.
The IUAA would like to thank hosts DSD for allowing us to have first use of their great new facility, and for the hard work of all their volunteers over the course of the weekend. We wish all our student athletes the best of luck in their upcoming exams, and hope for a successful summer track season ahead. We look forward to seeing everyone back at Road Relays in November!